Photo credit: Daniel Salmond
Award-winning Hills Musical Company has opened their final production for 2024 — the gothic thriller Jekyll & Hyde. For over fifty years, Hills Musical Company has produced quality shows at the Stirling Community Theatre.
An evocative tale of two men – one, a doctor, passionate and romantic; the other, a terrifying madman – and two women – one, beautiful and trusting; the other, beautiful and trusting only herself – both women in love with the same man and both unaware of his dark secret. A devoted man of science, Dr. Henry Jekyll is driven to find a chemical breakthrough that can solve some of mankind’s most challenging medical dilemmas. Rebuffed by the powers that be, he decides to make himself the subject of his own experimental treatments, accidentally unleashing his inner demons along with the man that the world would come to know as Mr. Hyde.
Based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson and featuring a thrilling score of pop rock hits from multi-Grammy- and Tony-nominated Frank Wildhorn and double-Oscar- and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse, Jekyll & Hyde has mesmerised audiences the world over.
Featuring a diverse cast of Adelaide’s talented musical theatre performers and a stunning live orchestra, the Stirling Community Theatre will come alive with Robert Louis Stevenson’s iconic characters and a haunting score.
Starring in the role of Jekyll and Hyde is Adelaide local Daniel Hamilton. Hamilton spoke to Glam Adelaide about the challenges of tackling two roles at the same time.
“The dual roles are inarguably the most interesting part of the story – do you approach it as one man, two dualities, or is it two different men, a total split? The source material is certainly open ended, leaving a lot to the imagination. The most interesting aspect I personally find, partially due to the time period, is that Jekyll isn’t a paragon of virtue himself. His experiment isn’t exactly ethical, and you can see this parallel both in how he wants to treat others, and how Hyde then acts. From there, they’re a mirror to Victorian England, the churn of humanity and class, the disregard for life. It’s a weighty prospect.
“The experience – it’s a once in a lifetime role. The whole show stands on the shoulders of one (two, ha!) man (men), and that’s very uncommon in the world of mainstage musical theatre.”
Hamilton will also be sharing the stage with his wife, Sarah Hamilton, who is playing Lucy Harris.
“On top of the drama, and the tech, and the experience itself, I’m most excited to be performing alongside my wife again,” said Hamilton.
“We’ve never played lead roles opposite each other, so I really feel it adds another layer to our performance, and it’s special for us. Definitely a key memory made.”
Jekyll & Hyde is music directed by Kristin Stefanoff, with choreography by Mark Stefanoff and Emily-Jo Davidson and directed by Ben Stefanoff.
Director Ben Stefanoff said to Glam Adelaide, “I was fortunate to musically direct a production of Jekyll & Hyde in 2017, and it is a real honour to have been asked by Hills Musical Company to direct this new production. I have always loved the original book by Robert Louis Stevenson, and like so many, fell in love with the Anthony Warlow cast recording of the show.
“This production is hopefully different to how people may have seen the show before. At the time the show is set, London 1888, there was a lot of change happening in medical science and in the industrial world. We are drawing heavily on steampunk, which works hand in hand with the Victorian era, while also tying into some of the more contemporary musical elements in the show. Working alongside my wife Kristin, and brother Mark, as well as my dear friend Emily-Jo, has been such a wonderful experience. Together we have created a stunning piece of theatre that we know audiences are going to love.”
Joining Daniel and Sarah Hamilton is Emily Morris as Emma Carew. Featuring Nic Equid as John Utterson, Matthew Owens as Sir Danvers Carew, Lachlan Stieger as Simon Stride and Spider, Natasha Scholey as Lady Beaconsfield, Jon McKay as General Lord Glossop, Aled Proeve as The Bishop of Basingstoke, Jamie Wright as Lord Savage, Matthew Redmond as Sir Archibald Proops, Grace Carter as Nellie and Daniel Steven as Poole. Supported by Chloe Anderson, Carolina Fioravanti, Hannah Hamilton, Ella Heywood-Smith, Charlotte Lawrence, Thomas McCarthy and Jaimi Wilson.
Jekyll & Hyde is now playing at the Stirling Community Theatre until November 23.
Further details can be found at: www.hillsmusical.org.au
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