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Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde
Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher
From Robert Louis Stevenson’s
“The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Directed by Jessica Thebus
At Northlight Theatre
9501 N. Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL
Call 847-673-6300 www.northlight.org
Tickets 25 - $55
Tuesdays at 7:30 pm (except Oct 7 & 21)
Wednesdays at 1 & 7:30 pm (except Oct 8)
Thursdays at 7:30 pm
Fridays at 8 pm
Saturdays at 2:30 & 8 pm
Sundays at 2:30 & 7 pm (except Oct 5, 19 & 26)
Running time is 2hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through October 26, 2008
First-class production of scary classic gothic horror tale is a treat!
Robert Louis Stevenson novel, “The Strange Tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” an 1886 popular read aptly depicted Stevenson’s view of the duality of human nature’s psyche. He put a face on the theme of human psychology and a morality concerning what makes us human. It begs the question are we essentially good or evil? Stevenson made the same character both good and evil.
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We meet Dr. Jekyll (Nick Sandys), a scholarly physician who conducts experiments with drug-educed attempts to explore the nature of good and evil. He uses himself as a Ginny pig taking one drug to enter the evil state (Mr. Hyde) and another to return to Dr. Jekyll. This scary horror tale dramatizes the evil side of man as we see Mr. Hyde drink, have sex with prostitutes, and inflict pain in a most aggressively savage manner. Director Jessica Thebus uses four characters to play Mr. Hyde having each enter the stage through red doors. Each of these characters also double as friends and associates of Dr. Jekyll. The movement back and forth by these ‘Hydes’ is accented by them sporting a deluxe walking stick.
The two level set (designed by Collete Pollard) with exquisite lighting (by John Horan) works with the multitude of doors to enhance the spooky atmosphere of the horror tale. Nick Sandys was marvelous as Dr. Jekyll. He established the doctor as a person of integrity, intelligence and one with an advanced theory of human nature. Jekyll was obsessed with discovering how to curb man’s tendency toward evil. We see how the effects of both the drugs he ingested and the duality of the nature of humanity effect the struggle for good and evil to possess the human spirit. The gradual duality threatens to destroy both Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as each persona battles to possess one body. Nick Sandys performance is enticing as he struggles to save his soul.
Patrick Clear, Thomas J. Cox, Danny McCarthy and Cindy Gold worked hard and effectively as devilish Mr. Hyde’s and supporting characters. This yeoman work added to the mystery and drama of the show. Cora Vander Brook, as Elizabeth, Mr. Hyde’s loyal lover was terrific.
“Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde” is a polished and smooth production that dramatized the horrors of man’s eternal struggle between good and evil. Hatcher’s adaptation has a clever twist at the end that will both surprise you and leave you thinking. Northlight’s production is theatrically innovative and scary.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Tom99@chicagocritic.com for comments
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: September 25, 2008
Jeff Recommended
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