Highly Recommended
I have come a little late to this extraordinary musical retelling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Jekyll and Hyde classic. Originally conceived for the stage in 1990 by Frank Wildhorn & Steve Cuden with music by Wildhorn and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse the show is presented here by Kokandy Productions.
For those unfamiliar with the 1886 original – – this is a tale of the strange case of Dr. Henry Jekyll, a fictional 19th century London physician who decides to experiment on himself using what might be described as psychotropic drugs.
His interest in the causes of insanity lead him to undertake this challenge in an effort to better understand the boundaries of the human mind, specifically as it relates to questions of morality. In doing so he unleashes his own demon in the person of his alter ego Mr. Hyde.
The early ensemble performance of “Façade” alludes to the multiplicity of human personality and the idea that we have to work to suppress our most base instincts while carefully crafting our public image.
In this production, both Jekyll and Hyde are expertly portrayed by soaring tenor, David Moreland who diligently adapts his voice and visage in a physically demanding transformation between each character as he struggles with the opposing forces of good and evil.
In deference to Victorian sensibilities, it would be unseemly for Dr. Jekyll’s fiancé Emma Carew (Emily McCormick) to have any interactions with the villainous Mr. Hyde who instead turns his amorous attentions to local sex worker Lucy Harris (Anna Seibert). These are not so much portrayals of good and evil but rather references to British upper- and lower-class social behavior. In fact, Lucy is quite kind and good but is easily abused by the sinister Hyde.
Baritone, Gabriel John Utterson (Kevin Webb) is Dr. Jekyll’s lawyer, and confidant who does his best to protect his friend.
The unchecked Hyde sets out to seek revenge by punishing the hospital board of advisors who were unwilling to support Dr. Jekyll’s initial request to experiment on inmates of the institution.
These members include the unsympathetic presiding officer Simon Stride (Quinn Kelch) whose bass-baritone had a particularly menacing timbre, Bishop of Basingstoke (Jon Parker Jackson), General Lord Glossop (Quinn Rigg) Lord Savage (Ismael Garcia), Sir Archibald Proops (Gabby Sauceda-Koziol), and Lady Beaconsfield (Maiko Terazawa) who gets a special mention for best hair and make-up.
Emma’s father, Sir Danvers Carew (Nathan Calaranan) is not exactly unsupportive but neither is he an enthusiastic ally of the doctor’s plan.
Quinn Simmons who appears as Jekyll’s butler Poole, as well as a number of other supporting characters, is one of those performers whose energetic presence is felt without being a distraction in spite of a gender bending persona that allows them to morph in a chameleon-like fashion from role to role.
In this performance understudy Seibert stepped in filling the role of Lucy (replacing Ava Stovall) providing a powerful solo delivery of “A New Life” as well as an exhilarating soprano duet of “In My Eyes” with Emily McCormick which nearly required a mid-play encore.
In general, the score by Wildhorn and Bricusse performed by an orchestra of 15 wonderful musicians led by talented music director Nick Sula, is an intense non-stop marathon of dynamic compositions seamlessly progressing from one to the other which had this very appreciative audience continually exhilarated.
It was clear that director Derek Van Barham had control of this company and a clear vision that was executed impeccably. This was in no small part augmented by the brilliant choreography of Brenda Didier with movements that effectively illustrated the various emotions and messaging required by each character or ensemble at any given moment.
The comparatively austere monochromatic wood grained multi-level set design of Sotirios Livaditis was very effective, offering a glimpse at the orchestra behind while providing vertical lift to the action.
The costumes of Rachel Sypniewski were perfection from head-to-toe including hair and wigs by Keith Ryan and make-up by Sid Genko complimented by lighting of “Max” Maxin.
Details: Jekyll & Hyde by Kokandy Productions is at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago through December 21, 2025. Running time is 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. For information and tickets visit kokandyproductions.com
Reviewer: Reno Lovison
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