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| Holding truer to the original Robert
Louis Stevenson novella, the Rep's closing Mainstage production of
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is probably the scariest stage or movie
version of this classic you'll ever experience. No drinking of potions, no
ducking behind a lab table to turn into the "monster" that is Mr. Hyde, this
play centers on the psychological aspects of multiple personalities and,
despite the melodrama, is a truly frightening evening of theatre. In fact, while one actor portrays Dr. Jekyll, four actors play a version of Mr. Hyde in addition to other roles. Anthony Marble is proper and often pompous as Jekyll. Although there is never an explanation of the why's and how's of his transformation, we can assume from the clever use of several actors, that we are dealing with multiple personalities as opposed to some self-inflicted creation. Through it all, Mr. Marble maintains the dignity that comes front and center with this respected man of medicine. Scott Schafer is perfect as the sputtering nemesis of Jekyll, Sir Danvers Carew as well as other people in Jekyll's circle including Mr. Hyde. Anderson Matthews also shines as both Hyde and Mr. Utterson while Kyle Fabel and Bernadette Quigley also get in on the Hyde action as well as others. Katie Fabel plays the love interest of both Jekyll and Hyde. Director Edward Stern squeezes every bit of horror from the Jeffrey Hatcher adaptation of the classic story with help from the eerie Rusty Wandall music and lighting design of Thomas C. Hase. The Robert Mark Morgan set also mixes with the mood of 1883 London. It all brings believability to a story that could be quite over the top in true melodramatic fashion. This one, however, casts a spell that is not only scary, but even more upsetting because the monsters in this case could be very, very real. Don't miss the final Mainstage production at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde plays through April 12th. This is Steve Allen with a look at theatre in our town for CLASSIC99. |
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