'How far would you go to play God?'
Dr Henry Jekyll goes the whole distance – as does Morphic Graffiti's updated adaptation of Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse's '90s Broadway hit 'Jekyll and Hyde the Musical'. As Jekyll casts ethics aside and experiments upon himself, Luke Fredericks's initially hesitant production really finds its stride. His dreams of saving the world unravel as his psychotic alter ego Edward Hyde threatens to consume him.
An initially tentative Tim Rogers eases rapidly into the lead role: timid and tense as the virtuous Jekyll, he runs riot as a Hyde free from all psychological inhibitions. Musical theatre relies upon a gifted cast to pull off songs at the most unexpected moments. And this production has monstrous talent, wonderfully complemented by Dean Austin and his orchestra and a powerhouse performance from Madalena Alberto as Lucy, the hooker with a heart.
Darkly revealing mankind's inherent evil, this musical take on Robert Louis Stevenson's novella is absorbing, disturbing and often downright terrifying.