‘Jekyll & Hyde’ @ Lyric Stage
Photography by Keith Warren
—Carol M. Rice
Ever since I heard songs from the 1990 concept album of Jekyll & Hyde, I’ve been in love with this show. While the 1997 Broadway cast album is...okay…my favorite version is the 1994 two-CD set Jekyll & Hyde, The Gothic Musical Thriller: The Complete Work. I wore this version out back in the day, and still listen to it on a regular basis.
Needless to say, I was thrilled to be in attendance at Lyric Stage’s opening weekend for this award-winning musical—based on the 1886 novella by Robert Louis Stephenson, conceived for the stage by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn, with book/lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and music by Frank Wildhorn.
I was NOT disappointed.
Dr. Jekyll is certain he’s on the verge of being able to separate good from evil in a man’s soul, and it’s important that he do so in time to save his father, who is dying in an insane asylum. When the board of the hospital adamantly (and rudely) refuses to allow Jekyll to perform experiments on one of their patients, he makes the bold decision to use the formula he’s developed on himself.
Things don’t go as planned, and under the formula’s influence Jekyll becomes the evil Mr. Hyde, who ruthlessly murders anyone even slightly in his way. Hyde also strikes up an unhealthy relationship with Lucy, a prostitute he originally met as Dr. Jekyll. This affects Jekyll’s relationships, both with his patient/fiancée Emma, and with his best friend John Utterson. Jekyll feels Hyde threatens to take him over completely, but just when the doctor thinks he might finally be rid of the monster inside him, Hyde makes a final, climactic appearance.
Cameron Vargas gives a tour de force performance as the title characters. He gives Jekyll a touch of the manic early on, giving us a hint of what he might be capable of. I liked this choice; it demonstrates from the start that Jekyll had Hyde inside him all along, which is, after all, the point of the story. With his lanky physical control and rubber face, Vargas creates a multi-dimensional character—always believable and always (even as Jekyll) a little bit scary. His soaring vocal prowess is unmatched; he was made for this role! Every song he performed was breathtaking, starting with the mournful “Lost in the Darkness” and ending with the powerful duet with himself, “Confrontation.”
(More on that later.)
As Jekyll’s friend and lawyer, Hunter Lewis is superb as John Utterson. His loyalty to Jekyll is unswerving, even as he displays doubts, and even in the role of “narrator” throughout, he maintains a a consistently solid yet caring demeanor. While Lewis doesn’t get any solos, he shines in “His Work and Nothing More.”
Director Michael Serrecchia has brilliantly cast two completely opposite types as fiancée Emma Carew (Nicole Brady-Chen) and Lucy Harris (Julia Rose Hartman). In performance, Brady-Chen is blonde, warm, and cuddly, while Hartman is dark, angular, and intense. Both ladies are extremely talented and make these roles their own. Each character is in love with Jekyll in her own way, with Brady-Chen’s Emma coming across as both caring and desperate to help her love find his way back to her. Hartman’s Lucy wistfully wishes for what she knows can never be. Their song “In His Eyes” was lovely.
Jekyll & Hyde sports a large, beautifully costumed ensemble that includes actors frequently jumping across class lines from scene to scene. Tricia Guenther’s fabulous costume, wig, and props design helps make all this happen seamlessly. Social class is something that is often difficult to discern in a show like this, but Ms. Guenther makes it look easy. I especially liked Doug Fowler’s costume as The Bishop of Basingstoke, and those of the ladies in “Bring on the Men.” Ms. Guenther also serves as choreographer for the production and has done a masterful job.
Larry Miller is music director for this musically challenging show. The tight harmonies and many solos are spectacular throughout, and the live band adds one more fabulous layer. The music alone makes the show worth seeing.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Scott Guenther’s subtle yet perfect production design. I’m not usually a fan of projections, but this time they absolutely rounded out the simple, skeletal set. In addition, the use of video in “Confrontation” (the Jekyll/Hyde duet) Vargas sings with himself, absolutely makes the number work in a way I’ve never experienced before.
Lyric Stage’s theatre space is tucked away in a warehouse just east of the Medical District...and it is a GEM! With a cozy lobby, intimate house, and comfortable seats, this is a wonderful place to experience musical theatre, and Jekyll & Hyde should be on everyone’s go-to list this spring. I honestly don’t have enough words to express how much I loved this production.
WHEN: March 28-April 19, 2025
WHERE: Lyric Stage Studio, 1170 Quaker Street, Dallas
WEB: lyricstage.org
