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