"THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE” READY FOR PRIME TIME

 STRANGE: Unsettling, unnerving, unusual.

 If you are looking for all of the above, to scare the bejesus out of you, or to just get in the Halloween mood  head to North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach and catch a wonderfully crafted  production of the Robert Louis Stevenson novella, “The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Jeffrey Hatcher’s new adaptation of Stevenson’s work, under the deft direction of Shana Wride with four actors transitioning back and forth from Hyde to Jekyll and back on Marty Burnett’s minimalist set  is a thrilling ride as in the haunted House at Disneyland. This gothic tale as directed by Wride is about as perfect a seduction as you will see anywhere.

L to R: Jacob Bruce, Ciarra Stroud, Connor Marx, Bruce Turk, 

                                            Kate MacNichol, Christopher M. Williams.

The battle over good vs. evil in the case of love, lust and horror plays itself out as the respected Dr. Henry Jekyll wrestles for the upper hand in trying to defeat and or hide the savage beast he has living within as his alter personality, Mr. Hyde goes astray, when he Jekyll,experiments with exotic and mind altering drugs after he finds he is able to bring out the more sinister side of himself. 

All the while the other personalities of Mr. Hyde are clever enough to move about under the cover of darkness mysteriously showing up whenever a crime, rape or murder happens. As Hyde is free to cause the sins for which Jekyll would be repulsed, the battle of who will win out gets more complicated for Jekyll. 

Using four different actors to show the different sides of Hyde is a great tool as all four playing Hyde are, in varying degrees of ready for prime time as his schizophrenic evil sides.  They are pretty menacing looking as they glare, some with sinister smiles getting ready to pounce. By this time the lights are ready to go out on Jekyll. 

The more mysterious and criminal the happenings discovered around both men, the more finger pointing is directed at the respected Jekyll as he roamed the streets at night committing heinous acts of sex and murder, in the guise of Hyde, that in another life would have repelled him. 

After we meet the players, the story swiftly moves from the foggy London streets to Jekyll’s living quarters (identified only by a bright red door that is moved back and forth to the Drs. medical offices to the laboratories and back to the streets of London.  

Bruce Turk, Katie MacNichol, Conner Marx, Jacob Bruce 

In a series of vignettes we follow the comings and goings of Jekyll and Sir Danvers Carew, vying for the same woman, a not so innocent Elizabeth  (Ciarra Stroud ). Her lifestyle as chamber maid and hotel clerk draws her to the younger looking, sexier and more sensuous Hyde showing us an edgier side than say what Jekyll thought it might be as he finds her in his travels. 

Jekyll still fears for her life and tries to stop Hyde from hurting her by stopping his experiments.  Whenever she appears, nothing good follows. At this point, we are witness to the strange transformations of the good doctor as he spirals downward into an abyss he cannot ascend. 

Stevenson’s novella is a classic read and was a success when it came out in 1885. Movies and stage adaptations, before Hatcher’s play, go more for the bizarre. Hatcher’s adaptation cuts to the quick and most directors, go for the fear and scare tactic especially when using different actors to show the many sides of evil; digging deeper into the heart of darkness. Welcome Shana!

Front: Bruce Turk with Connor Marx over his shoulder

For the most part all six characters in the play Bruce Turk, Katie MacNichol, Connor Marx, Ciarra Stroud and Christopher M. Williams are probably the best sextet of actors San Diego and areas around Wride could gather to pull this off and without flaw.

Played out on Burnett’s set with dim to dark looking lanterns arranged by lighting designer Matthew Novotny heart thumping sounding music (Melanie Chen Cole) and those look alike striped pants, check vest, walking sticks designed by Elisa Bonzoni oft times make it difficult to distinguish one from the other. 

Turk and Williams stand out as they embody the cunning Dr. Jekyll mocking and interrupting Carew (Jacob Bruce) at a lecture and showing off a superior self.  But turn about is fair play when Bruces’ Carew secretly undoes Jekyll while pretending to be his friend. By this time, it’s pretty obvious to the audience that Jekyll cannot undo what he began.

Connor Marx,  Jacob Bruce, Katie MacNichol

Make a note, there is no dripping blood or gore to repulse, just the substitution of a dead pig to replace a corpse in the good doctors laboratory that we do not see, but for the most part, watching the good/evil play out in real time is a bit of a trip. 

You will have ample time to catch it before the door closes on the eerie show. Just outside the Red Door, and to wide audience appeal, J&H has been extended through Nov. 15. 

The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll and M. Hyde" might be one of the best productions seen recently at NCR. 

Enjoy the show.

See you at the theatre.

When: 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sunday. Through Nov. 18 (plus 2 p.m. Nov. 8 and 15)

Where: North Coast Repertory Theatre, 987 Lomas Santa Fe Drive, Solana Beach

Photo: Aaron Rumley

Tickets: $49-$74

Phone: (858) 481-1055

Online: northcoastrep.org

“Doubt: A Parable” One Excellent Production, No Doubt About It.

 John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt: A Parable” is being mounted at New Village Arts Theatre in Carlsbad through Oct 22. 

Shanley’s 1994 play was originally staged off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club and transferred to the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway in 1995. It ran for 525 performances. It takes us back to the 60’s when suspicions might have aroused a Sister Aloysius but for most of the ‘Good Old Boys Club’ it was a blip on the radar screen.

No doubt Shanley, whose lightweight yet entertaining screenplay “Moonstruck” was a success in movie theatres, still had a story to tell about the actions of the church and how we as a society handle. them. This is no lightweight show.

Today it’s difficult to put aside the facts of the late 90’s with their breaking news admissions, accusations, and in and out of court settlements regarding the rampant pedophilia and cover up within the Catholic Church.

The environment in which this culture was hatched leaves us no choice but to draw the same conclusions Sister Aloysius did, as the facts unfolded at St. Nicholas. After the fact however, there were doubts about many things. Do the ends justify the means in finding answers? You be the judge.

Juliana Scheding and Kym Pappas

But Doubt is much more than a case to be made of a Priest’s actions and how it was handled by the Church’s hierarchy. It is more about our own doubts and our own beliefs, suspicions, tolerances and fears. Nothing, as they say, is all black and all white. And I imagine the discussions continue.

The play won the Pulitzer Prize, four Tony’s and the New York Drama Critics Award for Best Play. It has since been made into a movie starring Meryl Streep. “Doubt: A Parable”  starts off innocently enough. Father Brendan Flynn (Dr. AJ Knox)) is rehearsing his next sermon, “What do you do when you’re not sure, when you are lost, you are not alone.” he asks. It is about doubt and despair in which he concludes that when ‘One sees the truth, one does not doubt. When one veers off course, he is in doubt’.

AJ Knox as Father Flynn

This could be both good and bad. For Father Flynn’s reality, it is an omen. Later on, we see him as he prepares for another sermon on gossip, he is still upbeat and on target in the message of his sermon. That’s understandable in the wake of what’s to follow and the you know starts to hit the fan.

Father Flynn, the antagonist, is one of the younger, newer priests in the Parish and well -liked by the students and young Novices. He’s like one of them. He has a good sense of humor, is easily approachable, plays basketball and is ‘modern’ thinking.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Sister Aloysius, the protagonist. She is of the ‘older school’; conservative, not much of a sense of humor that’s noticeable and does not believe in coddling the children. “Their (the teachers) first duty is to protect the children, it is not the ‘teaching sister’s’ place to be complacent.”

The piece takes off innocently enough when the young and inexperienced Sister James (Juliana Scheding) is brought into the picture. She is concerned about one of her students who went home with a nosebleed. Sister Aloysius who pooh pooh’s the whole nosebleed thing, asks her how their only African-American student Donald Muller is faring. Unbeknownst to Sister James, Sister Aloysius is no fan of Father Flynn. 

With some pretty extensive posturing by Sister Aloysius about her suspicions of sexual misbehavior on the part of Father Flynn, she engages Sister James, a wide eyed believer in showing enthusiasm in her subject matter, (contrary to those of Sister Aloysius) in a plan or plot to ‘keep her eyes’ on Father Flynn and report back to her on any changes in Donald’s behavior. 

Sister James had mentioned earlier that Father Flynn was seen taking Donald into the Rectory by himself after basketball practice. It seems that when he returned to class, she smelled alcohol on his breath. Afterwards, he sat back at his desk and rested his head on his arms in a disquieting way, she observed. More determined than ever to get to the bottom of the Father Flynn annoyance, Sister Aloysius’ determination to have his tenure terminated continues with a vengeance.

 

Sister Aloysius has drawn the lines of battle in her quest to rid the school of Father Flynn for the good of the school and the children, but finds it difficult to get Sister James on board as she soon learns. When she calls the boy's mother (Sherrell M. Tyler) into the school and tells her of her suspicions, Mrs. Muller doesn’t want any part fingering Father Flynn either.  She confesses that her son is ‘that way’ and she just wants him to finish out the school year at St. Nicholas so he can get into a good public high school. His father beats him, she says through tears, and he would ‘kill’ him if there were any trouble. .Tyler presents a pitiful, yet determined picture of a Mother Bear protecting her young. “At least Father Flynn takes an interest in the boy," she tells Sister Aloysius.

Under the deft direction of Kristianne Kurner and a  Brava and steadfast performance by  Kym Pappas  as Sister Aloysius, her persona is in expert hands as shown with tough, determined and unwavering attitude, body language and actions. Pappas’ Sister Aloysius moves the play while she walks the rocky but determined road to prove herself right.

She is one who persists in finding the truth and follows her instincts to this regard despite the lonely effort and devastating effect on others. Pushing back is the one whose career and reputation is on the line. Father Flynn is desperate as he finally pulls the pecking order card on Sister Aloysius.

When Father Flynn, portrayed by a nuanced and beautifully portrayed Knox realizes he is the subject of Sister Aloysius’ suspicions, he at first brushes it off, then takes notes to remember their conversations and confrontations (he’s too flustered to remember, he laments) and then proceeds to compose his sermon on Intolerance.

He later enlists the support of Sister James, who herself has come under the scrutiny of her superior for being too involved in her passion, that of teaching history. “Be more formal and cannier; not so warm”, advises Sister Aloysius. Wavering somewhat, the more he makes his case to her the more she is swayed toward believing there was no wrong doing on his part.

Sherrell M. Tyler

Scheding shows just the right amount of lightness, agony and compassion as her journey through this horrible ordeal causes her, in the end, to tell Sister Aloysius that she’s having trouble sleeping. To that end Sister Aloysius, despondent by angst responds, “Maybe we’re not supposed to sleep well”.

As for Knox, his is a tough road to walk. While mildly trying to convince both Sisters and the audience of his innocence there is an absence of any rash answer or persuasive behavior on his part to make us believe him even if we wanted to. Either Shanley didn’t give him much to build on or Knox just wasn’t giving anything away: smart move of course under Kerner’s direction.

True, he first defends his friendship with the young student as in helping out a troubled child, to then denying any wrong doing or guilt except to say there is an innocent explanation, to then cautioning Sister Aloysius that she has no right to act on her own and she is not following church policy, but it doesn’t cut the mustard. 

One gets the clear impression, as our options grow slimmer of no wrongdoing, that he is in fact guilty of sexually molesting the child. 

After Father Flynn leaves St. Nicholas, Sister Aloysius learns that he has not only been transferred out but given a promotion at another Church Parish School, and is in charge of the school. It is clear that she is beginning to doubt even her own convictions in her faith, her God and her religion as she grasps her cross and sobs into her sleeve. So, firm is her conviction that she must prevent other children from the likes of Father Flynn, she appears broken but determined. 

From the beginning of her suspicions it appeared that Sister Aloysius was a troublemaker and wanted things left as they were. In her quest to destroy that calm, pleasant, modern figure, Father Flynn, she seemed mean spirited, spiteful, power positioning and uncharitable. But evidently, she saw and felt things no one else bothered to and dug and dug until he made his own move to be transferred or be forced to answer more questions. Was she right? Was there doubt?

Somewhere one has to believe that there will always be a Sister Aloysius looking out for vulnerable children like the many whose stories broke our hearts as they were told to the public some years ago.

Shelby Thach’s  designed the lighting focusing harshly on Sister Aloysius bringing out her no nonsense personality.  Father Flynn was the only one whose dress (Kevane La’Marr Coleman) had any color. Christopher Scott Murillo designed set with three playing spaces defined by their use: the Pulpit (larger than life), Sister Aloysius’ office and an outside area where many decisions were made or confessed, Sound design; Marcus Rico with real crow like gawks which I also despise and props and assistant design Sofia Cassidy. 

If you are interested in some real drama with a questionable outcome; one that you will find yourself in doubt more times than not, this is your play.

Enjoy.

See you at the theatre.

 

Doubt When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays; 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Through Oct. 22.

Where: Conrad Prebys Theatre at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center, 2787 State St., Carlsbad

Tickets: $28-$48

Phone: (760) 433-3245

Photo: Jason Sullivan

Online: newvillagearts.org

A Ghoulish Romp With “The Addams Family “at San Diego Musical Theatre

If you’re looking for a fun theatrical treat, look no further than SDMT.  “The Addams Family-A New Musical Comedy” is  now playing through, well almost Halloween and how fitting)

Spending time with the Addams 'Family, Gomez, amazingly talented (Mauricio Mendoza) Morticia,his wife, Uncle Fester, Wednesday, Pugsley, and Grandma, and the zombie looking Lurch, the butler (Jackson Marcy) is a haunting, macabre -but one of a kind experience.

Mauricio Mendoza and Erica Marie Weisz

You’re in for a goulash romp through Central Park and areas most don’t live to talk about; the crypts of The Addams Family ancestors. It does sound a bit weird, but I’m in uncharted territory here

 “The Addams Family” with book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa is based on the Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams’ cartoons, but the story that was Broadway bound is original.

In 1964 “The Addams Family” became a TV series and later a morning cartoon for the Sat. morning contingency of kids who tuned in to watch cartoons long before electronic devices over took their brains. In the ‘90’s several movies appeared on the big screen. 

(front) AJGange,( l to r)Debbie Nicastro, Lena Ceja, Ryan Burtanog 

Jackson Marcy (back row)

The story opens at the crypts of The Addams Family ancestors.  Once a year they come out, so to speak, for a family reunion. This particular family visit didn’t end as well as expected for the ancestors. The gates of the crypts closed too soon leaving the dearly departed engaged in problem solving before the gates would open again for them.

Here’s the pitch: 18 -year -old Wednesday Addams (performed by the talented Lena Ceja) wants to host her boyfriend Lucas’ (Carson Marcy) from  swing state Ohio) family for a meet and greet dinner party. It will be a first for the Addams’ to dine with ‘outsiders. No doubt it will be an eye opener for the Beineke’s, Mal and Alice (Ryan Fahey and Alexis Zimmerman).

At the gates, Uncle Fester (an amazingly talented and cuddly cute (if you can call him that- Ryan Burtanog) “The Moon and Me”, tells the ‘family’ that he needs their help with the ‘Wednesday problem’. They cannot return to their crypt until Wednesday and Lucas (Carson Inouye) are happily married. (“Festers Manifesto”)

It seems daughter Wednesday has fallen in love with Lucas Beineke a young man she met one night wandering about the park. It was love at first sight; pledges were made and a ring exchanged. They want to get married but her family has a few objections. As an outsider, there will be some getting used to well… a different way of being.

A.J. Gange, Lena Ceja (center) Erica marie Weisz with ancestors

On the other hand,  love has transformed Wednesday from black sack to bright and happy; from all black to bright yellow, (the talented Chong Mi Land designed the costumes) a color her mother, Morticia, cannot, absolutely cannot abide But her biggest problem is telling her mother that she wants the family to invite the Beineke family to dinner for a ‘meet and greet’. 

All hell breaks loose when Mom Morticia ( the beautifully talented and fun loving Erica Marie Weisz) hears about the invite and dinner. She’ll reluctantly go along, but for a little revenge for not being kept in the loop, decides to play the “Full Disclosure” game with the new in-laws. (“Full Disclosure”

Lena Ceja 

In the meantime, mischief making son and brother Pugsley, (A. J. Gange) steals Grandma’s (Debbie Nicastro) magical truth potions ‘that will bring out someone’s dark nature’. At the dinner it was  intended it for Wednesday but it ended up being downed by Alice Beineke (a deliciously hysterical and physically adept and with an operatic voice to die for Zimmerman, who just about stole that entire scene.  And she does!

Mauricio Mendoza (center) with  Lurch and ancestors

Director Carlos Mendoza (yes his brother is Mauricio) and a sterling cast bring out the best there is with their collective talent to elevate a kooky romp in the park to a rather pleasant spell of charming but eerie entertainment. 

Mendoza ( Mauricio)  and Ms. Weisz are a natural together. There is a chemistry between the two that ignites when he is trying to calm  mother and daughter who do not agree on much, to get along. As both singer, dancer, and dead pan (pardon the pun) comic, his talents spill over as the very concerned and caring father while trying to cope with his suspicious and curious wife. (“Trapped” 

Alexis Zimmerman

Their famous tango “Tango de Amor” is one of the many happy surprises along with their “Let’s Live Before We Die” as the two make plans to travel the sewers of Paris. Yup. There’s that too. 

As for the stunning in all black talented and sexy Ms.Weisz, her musical pipes and characterization of Morticia are as comical as they are subtle and graceful. (“Just Around The Corner”) 

In comparison, the other Mom, Alice is an uptight and disappointed in her life wife who goes bonkers after she downs the ‘magic secret cocktail revealing secrets of the other half of her up tight husband who is, pardon the expression, mortified by her outbursts. Ryan Fahey, the outsider, with an underwritten character, who has forgotten how to be a caring human being finally gets with the program. 

As for the ancestor’s ensemble, one couldn’t ask for a more talented group. They sing and dance (Aaron Pomeroy choreographs and how about a ‘Bunny Hop’?) and pose like Greek statues on platforms. 

Once again Chong Mi Land shines with the all shades of grey fitted costumes that actually take on the look of granite. Mathys Herbert designed the sets, Michelle Miles, the lighting, Brandon Boomizad sound and Richard Dueñez Morrison, Music director and just a suggestion… lower the volume please.

Lena Ceja and A.J. Grange

 Guessing from the audience participation the day I attended, most were familiar with the overture from the TV theme. They were right in there snapping their fingers and swaying back and forth as the music started.

If you like ghoulish, you will love this show; it’s just this side of the macabre, but not to fear, it’s so morbidly funny you just might want to see it for a second time if but to believe your eyes. And if you are looking for a free liftoff to the moon get in touch with Uncle Fester “The Moon and Me”. 

See you at the theatre. 

The Addams Family

San Diego Musical Theatre

4650 Mercury Street in San Diego (Kearny Mesa)

Wed & Thurs at 7; Fri at 8; Sat at 3; Sun at 2

ends on Oct 29, 2023

for tickets, call 858.560.5740 or visit SDMT

photos by Heather Longfellow