Review: 'The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' at PSC

Dedicated to the memory of beloved music director Richard DeRosa

Oakville, CT - The Phoenix Stage Company closes their 2018 season with THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE by Eberle Thomas & Barbara Redmond. This play is a version for the stage adapted from the Robert Louis Stevenson work.

The old story is ingeniously told from the perspective of Newcome, the inspector from Scotland Yard who is assigned to this case. He has the grim task of finding the murderous man or beast who has terrorized all of London. The authors do more than a simple retelling of the ancient horror story. The characters speak like real people, and they have real depth and dimension. Thomas and Redmond have crafted fully-fleshed characters out of the dry bones of history, making the story hauntingly real.

The director of this challenging piece is John Long, who also directed MACBETH and THE THREE MUSKETEERS at PCS. With the assistance of stage manager Tori Richnavsky, Mr. Long made sure that the blocking of the actors indicated when we were in a flashback with minimal set changes. Rob Richnavsky once again served as fight choreographer and kept everyone safe in the more violent scenes. Costumes by Ed Bassett suggested the era with a flourish. Lighting design by Jameson H. Willey helped with the frequent transitions.

The cast was led by the supremely talented Daniel R. Willey (REBEL YELLS and many others with PSC) as both Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde. By simply removing the spectacles of the good doctor and adding a hat, as well as a change in his speaking voice, this actor convincingly transformed himself into the evil Mr. Hyde and back again.

Tim Phillips (REBEL YELLS and many, many others) took on the role of Inspector Newcomen, serving as the narrator until his services were needed in the action of the story. Laura Sturges-Cortez (FEMALE TRANSPORT) gave an impressive performance in her role as the housekeeper Miss Poole.

Teresa Alexandru, last seen in THE OCTETTE BRIDGE CLUB as Nora, looked the part of Rachel Lanyon in great period gowns complete with a bustle and was perfectly reserved as the bewildered fiancee of the good doctor. Another of my favorite PSC performers, Chris Evans (REBEL YELLS and a slew of other PSC credits) stepped up to play Jekyll’s friend Dr. David Lanyon at all performances when another actor had to drop out of the production. One would never have guessed that Mr. Evans was originally a standby for the role.

Roberto Perez (FROST/NIXON at TBTA) played the faithful butler Dowling and Michael Cassidy (REBEL YELLS,) who served as assistant stage manager, appeared briefly as Lord Danvers Carew.

The 2019 season will begin with the return of EVERY CHRISTMAS STORY EVER TOLD (And Then Some!) Back by popular demand, the farewell tour of this holiday favorite will feature Ed Bassett, Ian Diedrich and Rob Richnavsky under the direction of Tim Phillips. It opens Nov. 23 and runs through Dec. 9, 2018. If you have not experienced this hysterical show, make your reservations now; if you have seen it (repeatedly, as I have) there has been some updating for what will be the final production.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle.She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Click to visit the NEW CCC Facebook page.