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The tragic story of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Hyde about a Victorian era doctor in the 19th century trying to separate the good and evil impulses in man, that was originally written as a novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, is illuminating as a musical in the Actors’ Playhouse production of “Jekyll & Hyde,” running now through November 1 at Actors’ Playhouse at the Coral Gables venue.
The acting, costuming, singing in the Actors’ Playhouse production are all top notch in creating characters that are fresh and compelling, even though the “Jekyll & Hyde” story is well known by audiences. The two act musical was written by the team of Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse. “Jekyll & Hyde” succeeded on Broadway in 1990 with a four year run.
The story begins with Dr. Jekyll (actor E.L. Losada) pleading with a board of directors asking for funding for an experiment to separate the good and evil in humans through an unknown volunteer. Jekyll was haunted by his late father who suffered from mental illness. The directors all rebuffed Jekyll and the doctor was forced to use himself as the person to be tested for his experiment.
Jekyll used his serum on himself to become the evil Edward Hyde (Losada) while singing “This Is The Moment” as Jekyll thinks he has found a cure for the madness he has witnessed.
Jekyll’s enthusiasm will eventually sour as he learns that Hyde has his own will and acts out his evil inclinations through the murder of all those who rebuffed Jekyll. Hyde not only kills off Jekyll’s opponents, but does harm to all who admire and love Jekyll.
Notably, two women are targets for Hyde’s evil behavior. Jekyll’s fiance Emma (Anette Barrios-Torres) and Jekyll’s new friend, prostitute Lucy (Emily van Vliet Perea). Despite being a prostitute, Jekyll is tempted by Lucy even before the doctor transforms himself into Hyde.
Hyde imposes his will on both women but with different outcomes to both Emma and Lucy. The tension builds up to a dramatic climax in which Jekyll’s secret is revealed with tragic results.
Standing out in the Actors’ Playhouse production is Losada who plays the dual roles of Jekyll and Hyde with both the charm and anger needed to create the complexity of both characters. His superb baritone shines, especially in the solo song “This Is The Moment” and his duet songs with Barrios-Torres in “Take Me As I Am” and “Streak of Madness.”
Losada’s most memorable song and scene is in Jekyll’s confrontation with Hyde through a mirror in the song “Confrontation” as the audience empathizes with Jekyll’s struggles to eliminate Hyde from dominating his life.
Losada won a Carbonell Award as best actor in 2005 for playing the same roles in “Jekyll/Hyde” at the now defunct Broward Stage Door Theater.
Also standing out among the 21 member cast are soprano Barrios-Torres in her song “Once Upon A Dream” as she expresses both her love and fear of Jekyll as well as mezzo-soprano Perea, who especially shines in the two songs “Someone Like You” expressing her love for Jekyll and “A New Life”, expressing her desire for a change in her life as a prostitute
In the one comic moment in “Jekyll & Hyde”, Perea showcases her interests in the opposite sex in the song “Bring On The Men” that gives the audience relief to the tension that follows.
Along with Actors’ Playhouse director David Arisco, costume designer Elis Tillman, fight director Lee Soronko, lighting director Eric Nelson, scenic designer Brandon M. Newton and sound designer Reider Sorenson are all credited to transporting audiences back to 19th century England with colorful costumes and manners of the Victorian era. The nine piece musical band, sheltered in an unseen pit on stage, gave the 20 plus songs in “Jekyll & Hyde” vitality.
Standing out with the three lead characters, actors Don Seward as Jekyll’s longtime friend John and Barry Tarallo as Emma’s father moved the story forward as the lone supporters of Jekyll.
Composers Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse’s two act musical “Jekyll & Hyde” is currently running now through November 1 at Actors’ Playhouse, 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Tickets range from $50-$100. For more information and tickets, call 305-444-9293 or go to actorsplayhouse.org
