The definitive metaphor for the duality of mankind, the torrid tale of Jekyll and Hyde has been familiar to lovers of literature for nearly 140 years. Adapted for the stage in 1990 by Frank Wildhorn, Leslie Bricusse, and Steve Cuden, Kokandy Productions brings the story to life once again in an absolutely stunning production—the first Chicago staging in over 15 years.
From its opening burst of thunder to its tragic finish, Jekyll & Hyde director Derek Van Barham and the immensely talented cast maintain a spellbinding hold on the audience. Though the staging is simple, Brenda Didier’s choreography makes it a visual masterpiece, and the ensemble sets a tone of precise, measured horror, never missing a mark or opportunity to elevate the intensifying fear overtaking the streets of London in the wake of Edward Hyde’s monstrous reign.
David Moreland, who portrays both titular characters, is magnificent: his Jekyll is a curious, foolhardy doctor whose urgency ultimately leads to his—and others’—demise. The brilliantly staged transformation scene, in which the entire ensemble lines up for a maddening slow burn, culminates in Moreland’s anguished yet triumphant metamorphosis, marked by green-tinted lighting and a newfound grit in his voice.
While Robert Louis Stevenson’s original 1886 Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde novella distinctly lacks any significant female characters, the musical prominently features both Emma Carew (Emily McCormick), Jekyll’s fiancée, and Lucy Harris (Ava Lane Stovall), a dancer at the Red Rat who falls for Jekyll in the midst of being tormented by Hyde. Both actors are spectacular, with their depiction of these haunted women truly captivating and earning well-deserved extended applause.
Van Barham describes the production as “provocative, sexy, and scary as hell,” and it indeed delivers on a.ll those fronts. A 15-piece orchestra, supervised by music director Nick Sula, dramatically enhances the show, never distracting from the performers on stage but serving as a character in its own right. Sound design is by Matt Reich. Scenic deisgn is by Sotirios Livaditis with lighting by G “Max” Maxin IV. Costumes are by Rachel Sypniewski. Shelby Burgus is stage manager
This production of Jekyll & Hyde earns every well-wrung ounce of emotion and terror it inspires. An absolute must-see for Chicago theater lovers seeking a little horror this Halloween season (or the following two months).
Jekyll & Hyde by Kokandy Productions has been extended through January 10. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (7pm) and Sundays (5pm) at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. Tickets (starting at $35) are on sale now.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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