A wonderful surprise awaits music lovers in Alexandria this Halloween season and beyond. The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s presentation of Jekyll & Hyde The Musical is one of the best musicals I have ever seen, or so my wife keeps telling me. She is the singer in the family. She and the rest of the packed opening night audience loved it. The acting, dancing, killing, music, singing, and set design all deserve awards as does director Jennifer Hardin for bringing this all together.
Jekyll & Hyde The Musical is based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson. The book is by Leslie Bricusse, who wrote most of the lyrics; the music is by Frank Wildhorn.
From reviews I read beforehand of previous local productions, I brought earplugs in my pocket expecting a loud rock opera such as Jesus Christ Superstar. That would never work in this little theater. Instead, the crew made marvelous use of the space they have.
Michael McGovern plays Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Henry Hyde extraordinarily. The researcher in him wants to save the world. He doesn’t listen when the learned brain trust tells him his plans are dangerous, immoral, and mad. Instead, Jekyll experiments on himself and crosses the line from sanity to madness never to return.
In the opening scene, Jekyll visits his father (Micheal Blinde), sitting in a wheelchair oblivious to his surroundings. The loving son sings “Lost in the Darkness” and promises to find a cure for whatever has happened to Dad’s brain.
Before Jekyll injects himself with his untested potion, the doctor croons “Now There Is No Choice/This Is the Moment.” One lyric says “… now the time has come to prove to them I’ve made it on my own!”
The audience loved a counterpoint featuring Hyde’s fiancée Emma Carew (Shelby Young), her father Sir Danver Carew (Brian Ash), Gabriel John Utterson (Matt Yinger), and Hyde at the conclusion of “Your Work and Nothing More.” The technique brought four voices singing different lines in harmony at the same time. The crowd went crazy.
Lucy Harris’ feelings for Jekyll are exposed toward the end of Act One as she sings “Someone Like You.” Performed by Lexi Mellott, the song emphasizes the profound impact Jekyll has had on her opening his door and nursing her wounds. Their “love” makes Lucy believe her dreams could come true and bring newfound happiness.
The chorus singing and dancing to “Murder, Murder” as Hyde avenges the hospital board’s rejection of Jekyll’s research is an example of how deep the talent is in this production. Prostitutes, merchants, and high citizens mourn the death of a not-so-saintly Bishop of Basingstoke (Andrew Cosner). The other members of the board are laughing at the bishop being patronized when Hyde finds them.
“You never promised me the journey would be easy or pleasant, only we would take it together,” Emma says after Jekyll finds her in the laboratory reading his journal. The classically trained soprano then wows the audience with “Once Upon a Dream” as she attempts to settle the obviously troubled doctor.
Young as Emma joins Mellott as Lucy seeking Jekyll’s attention in a duet, “In His Eyes,” as they fantasize love, safety, and the future. “Everything worth living for is there within his eyes,” they sing.
Lucy joins Hyde in a tantalizing song and dance with “Dangerous Game.” The way Mellot plays the character I wondered if Lucy played the game out of fear or if at some level she enjoyed the danger. Either way the scene is erotic with class.
Skip Gresko’s set was most pleasing to me. Little Theatre of Alexandria used a traditional upstage, backstage format and added a second floor that housed the orchestra backstage right. Lucy’s bed downstage right was a singing platform. Center stage was a platform for character movement. A series of cabinets rested side by side backstage center on the ground. The cabinets had multiple swirling sides in them so stagehands could easily move them to establish a London street, a drawing room, a laboratory, or roll them out of the way to create more space. I have never seen community theater this creative or innovative.
David Correia’s sound design was good. I don’t know if McGovern shouted playing Hyde as an emotional gimmick or if the sound was turned up, but it was a little much. Some of us in the military were taught to break necks as a silent death technique; Correia’s crackle of the neck snapping could be heard for miles.
Mark Deal’s 14-member orchestra was exceptional. It hit every note perfectly in the 42-piece musical. An imporant army of volunteers brought the show together.
Running Time: Two hours and 20 minutes, with a 20-minute intermission.
Jekyll & Hyde The Musical plays through November 9, 2024 (Thursdays–Saturdays at 8 pm, Sunday matinees at 2 pm), at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA. To purchase tickets ($36 for reserved seating), go online or contact the Box Office via phone (703-683-0496) or email (boxoffice@thelittletheatre.com).
Not recommended for children under 12.
The program for Jekyll & Hyde The Musical is online here.
