[THEATRE ~ AUS]
Hey Majesty’s Theatre, Fri 3 Mar, 2023.
Once again, Director Kip Williams and Sydney Theatre Company have taken on a classic tale of humanity, depravity, and the multitude of worlds within our minds.
The Strange Case Of Dr Jeckyll And Mr Hyde, twisted and treated with what now seems to be Williams’ signature take on theatre, brings live action to screens above the stage and uses technical wizardry to meld action with pre-recorded characters. It’s the unique touch that drew so many accolades from the Company’s production of A Picture of Dorian Gray and set this critic’s expectations high.
The pace roars along from the start, as we meet our protagonist, London lawyer Gabriel Utterson, played by Matthew Backer, who is described as a confidant and friend of Dr Jeckyll, a solid man, curious and conscientious, stern, and serious, but once lit up by friendship warm and reliable. It’s a character description held to perfection by Backer throughout the performance as Utterson endeavours to solve the mystery of his friend’s unlikely connection to Mr Hyde.
Ewen Leslie is a chameleon, taking on a multitude of roles with subtle but effective costuming and accents to define them as distinctly different. The many minor characters are deeply considered and hold their place solidly within the performance. His Dr Jeckyll moves from jovial and fresh to conflicted and guarded, and Mr Hyde is tattered and bent with a gait and voice that send goosebumps up your spine.
Black-clad camera operators scuttle around the action as the performers move across the stage, capturing perfectly lit aspects of the characters and forcing perspective as the audience moves with them from office spaces to foggy, lantern-lit, London streets. The images are projected on screen in crisp black and white, setting the mood of the time perfectly.
As an audience member, it’s hard to force your eyes away from the action on-screen, but it’s worth the effort as watching the stage allows you to appreciate the exceptionally tight coordination required to present such a seamless production.
This was complimented by expertly conceived stage and lighting design, by Marg Horwell and Nick Schlieper respectively, that let the characters to become the observers and the observed, move up and down flights of stairs, and in a moment of frantic, unsettling fury allowed Mr Hyde transform to Dr Jeckyll in front of our eyes. Clemence Williams’ musical score highlights the action in artful film-like beauty throughout, maintaining the tension of the tale as it barrels towards its climax.
As we reach the final act, Utterson journeys with Jekyll through the experience of his transformations as he reads his confession. In doing so the production breaks free of the noir black and white setting to depict Jekyll’s dive into hedonism in colourful light, nightclub sounds, and ridiculous character play that ventures from the Can Can to The Wizard Of Oz.
It’s an act that felt repetitive in reflection of A Picture Of Dorian Gray, and in this production out of step with the more subtle use of filters and effects. But, that said, it received delight and laughs from much of the audience.
The production didn’t break stride, except for a forced stop due to an unexpected health episode, and in trying to condense the story to under 2 hours of stage time it delivered a constant barrage of action and narration, which at times felt dense where a moment of breath could have helped. But, if maintaining the sense of urgency was the goal, it was a resounding success and it’s hard to fault the performances and technical skill of the many people on and off stage for this show, who delivered a captivating story from start to finish.
3.5 stars
Sarah Martin
The Strange Case Of Dr Jeckyll And Mr Hyde continues at Her Majesty’s Theatre, at various times, until Sun 12 Mar.
Bookings at adelaidefestival.com.au. Click HERE to purchase your tickets.
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