ACT's 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' Explores the Beast

Jeffrey Hatcher's intriguing new adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of duality, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" brings a wonderful tone of the creepy to Seattle's ACT.  With a very sparse (but fantastic) set, dim lighting and, oh yes, fog, the production gives the audience a thriller they will not soon forget.

Hatcher's take on Stevenson's story is provocative in that he is exploring the multiple layers of Mr. Edward Hyde by having him portrayed by 4 different actors.  Each one taking on a different aspect of Hyde: Lust, Rage, Deviousness, and even Love (unhealthy, over possessive love but love none the less).  This new adaptation made it's debut in 2008 at the San Jose Rep with local actor R. Hamilton Wright as the upright Dr. Jekyll.  Wright now brings this piece home but this time as the director, lending his particular vision and experience with the play to presenting it at ACT.  But this time, it's in the round, not an easy task, but he does it with grace and fluidity.  There was only one moment of the staging where I became confused as to who was involved in the scene as their back was to me but that was quickly rectified. 

Four out of the six actors in the show portray multiple characters and the four also each play a piece of Hyde.  Deborah Failkow, David Anthony Lewis, David Pichette and Brandon Whitehead each weave in and out of their various characters so brilliantly that what we were seeing at times felt more like a devilish ballet than a play.  Each of them with only a slight costume change and their amazing talents made it quite easy to tell which character they were portraying at any given moment.  And each portrayed his or her (yes, her) element of Hyde with subtlety and style so as to never make him look cartoonish, but as the uninhibited monster he is.  Accompanying them on stage were Sylvie Davidson as the sweet Elizabeth who unfortunately falls in love with Hyde and Bradford Farwell as the frustrated Dr. Jekyll, trying to keep the beast in check.  Both Davidson and Farewell add stunning performances to an already superb ensemble. 

And I must mention the collaboration between the actors and the director which makes the play truly come to life.  As I said before, at times this looked more like a dance and at times it was.  The staging by Wright often places multiple aspects of Hyde on stage at the same time and also has them transferring their dominance from one Hyde to the next with a simple tossing of a walking stick from one to the other.  But this is done so effortlessly and with such precision that you are never taken out of the action.  I can only attribute this to some fine staging by Wright and splendid timing and work on the part of the actors.

Add all of this in with an extraordinary lighting and sound design and some spot on fight choreography and you have a marvelously disturbing thriller that was a pleasure to see.  Do yourself a favor and catch this one.  Or else Hyde may find you!

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" plays at ACT through May 10^th.  For tickets or information call the box office at 206-292-7676 or visit them online at www.acttheatre.org.

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