“Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” at Hartford Stage by Zander Opper

“Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde”

Hartford Stage

Hartford Stage is currently presenting an enjoyable, if confusing, production of “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.”  As adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher, this version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novella is literate and intelligent.  The main problem with this show is actually the way that this play has been cast: other than Nathan Darrow, who plays Dr. Henry Jekyll, the other five actors take on several different roles.

 This would be fine, but the choice of who plays a particular part (for example, Mr. Hyde) is delegated to more than one performer, so this play can be very difficult to follow.  If the staging had been more consistent with which actor was playing each role, the show would have been a lot better.  All that being said, though, it is possible to have a spooky and creepy good time seeing this play, despite the problems.  Indeed, considering “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” is playing at Hartford Stage during Halloween, it can still be recommended as an evening of sinister fun.

On the magnificent two-level set, gloriously designed by Sara Brown, of Dr. Jekyll’s home, as well as the surrounding London streets and various other locations, director Melia Bensussen keeps the show on the move, with many different playing areas and onstage compartments.  The mood of “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” is highly appropriate, with the feeling that something frightening can occur at any time.  During this show, there are several characters murdered (including cadavers shown covered with a sheet) and this production is fertile ground for such goings-on.

Still, there is the scattershot problem with the performers playing a particular role which drives one to bewilderment.  Just as one actor has been assigned a part in one scene, in the next scene the character is being played by a different actor or actress, in a manner that reminds one of a tag team race.  Aside from Nathan Darrow, who makes a wonderful Dr. Jekyll, it is really hard to accurately praise the rest of the cast since the whole production is all over the place.  Indeed, at one point, Mr. Hyde is portrayed by four performers at the same time.  It is difficult to think of any past show that has been so complicated in this manner.

Taken as a group, however, besides Darrow, the rest of the company can definitely be praised.  Playing Dr. Utterson and several other roles, Omar Robinson is excellent.  Likewise, Peter Stray’s Dr. Lanyon is quite good and Nayib Felix is terrific as Sir Danvers Carew, as well as The Inspector.  Jennifer Rae Bareilles shines as Dr. Jekyll’s butler Mr. Poole and, in one of the best performances in the show, Sarah Chalfie is fantastic as Elizabeth, who is a prostitute whom Mr. Hyde visits quite frequently.

Nonetheless, the whole show remains mystifying, with several questions left unanswered.  For example, there is a character named Sanderson in the play, though the program does not specify which performer plays that role.  Also, taking all the murders into account, at the conclusion of the play, it is difficult to remember exactly who died and who stayed alive.

That “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” still provides a great deal of entertainment can be chalked up to how good the actors are, as well as how stylishly the whole production has been designed.  An-lin Dauber’s costumes are fabulous and totally of the period and the lighting design by Evan C. Anderson is moody and sensational.  There is perfect sound design by Jane Shaw, who is also responsible for the atmospheric original music.  Choreographer Shura Baryshnikov works ideally with the director, making the show fleet and nimbly staged, with a running time of an hour and forty-five minutes (with an intermission).

Even as one can fault the play for driving one slightly crazy in trying to figure out which character one is watching at any particular time (as well as which performer is playing that character), the production, as a whole, can be commended for being so enjoyable.  Indeed, this show is a mixed bag.  If one is able to go along with the inconsistencies (which this show possesses in spades) and are able to look past them, there is definitely a great deal of pleasure to be had at Hartford Stage’s “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.”

“Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde” runs through November 3, 2024, at Hartford Stage, 50 Church St., Hartford CT.  For tickets and more information, please call 860-527-5151 or visit www.hartfordstage.org.  

Photo: Nathan Darrow

Photo by T. Charles Erickson