Presented by: Hills Musical Company
Reviewed: 8 November, 2024
The Hills have produced a very slick production of this show. With book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Music by Frank Wildhorn, this iteration by the Stefanoffs is definitely worth a visit. Direction by Ben Stefanoff is tight and the music controlled by Kristin Stefanoff is beautiful, with Mark Stefanoff and Emily-Jo Davidson’s choreography as the finishing touch.
Based on the original gothic horror story by Robert Louis Stevenson, the tale has lost none of its intrigue. The main character Dr Henry Jekyll seeks to investigate the depth of good and evil in a man by experimenting on himself with disastrous consequences.
On a steampunk-inspired set, designed by Ben and Kristin Stefanoff, the movement is controlled by lighting and moveable set pieces. The set works well and is well detailed with smooth changes. The lighting is good, very moody, using spot lights well, but at times could do with a little more face light. Likewise the audio was good but occasionally a little more volume on the mics would be nice. The costumes were also influenced by steampunk but really reflect the era well, aiding to the general feel of the production.
The chorus pieces were very well done, both the singing and the choreography. Numbers like Facade (and its reprises), Bring On The Men, Dangerous Game and especially Murder Murder were slick, well timed and sharp. There was a lot of support for the leads.
The part of Dr Jekyll (and subsequently Mr Hyde) was realised by Daniel Hamilton with great characterisation. Hamilton achieved a very believable transformation scene with no makeup. His version of This Is The Moment was memorable, and his passion showed in I Need to Know. The duet with Emma, Take Me As I Am was beautiful.
Emily Morris as his fiancé Emma Carew was the perfect match and showed her vocal ability in Once Upon A Dream, and in her duet with Lucy, In His Eyes, they both displayed deep feeling. As Lucy, the object of Hyde’s attention, Sarah Hamilton is well cast. She holds the focus in the strong number Bring On The Men and shows softness in Someone Like You.
The other roles are taken by good character actors like Nic Equid (John Utterson), Matthew Owens (Sir Danvers Carew), Lachlan Stieger (Simon Stride/Spider), Natasha Scholey (Lady Beaconsfield), John McKay (Lord Glossop), Aled Proeve (The Bishop), Matt Redmond (Proops), Jamie Wright (Lord Savage), Grace Carter (Nellie), Daniel Steven (Poole) and a strong ensemble.
The whole cast worked well together and the result is a fine piece of theatre well worth a trip up the hill.
Reviewed by Fran Edwards
Photo credit: Daniel Salmond
Venue: Stirling Community Theatre
Season: 8 – 23 November, 2024
Duration: 2 hours and 20mins (including a 20min intermission)
Tickets:
Bookings: www.hillsmusical.org.au/jekyllandhyde
Disclaimer: Ben Stefanoff is the arts editor for Glam Adelaide. Kristin Stefanoff and Daniel Hamilton are members of the Glam Adelaide arts review team.
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