Theater Review: “Jekyll & Hyde The Musical" by Get Up Stage Company

New Britain - Lindsey DiPietro directed the young adults in the Get Up Stage Company in this weekend’s truly amazing production of “Jekyll & Hyde The Musical.” The students aged 16 - 20 pulled off all of the technical aspects of this very big and challenging dark musical.

Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic thriller, Jekyll & Hyde is the gripping tale of a brilliant mind gone horrifically awry, set to a powerful pop-rock score by Frank Wildhorn with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. In an attempt to cure his ailing father’s mental illness by separating “good” from “evil” in the human personality, talented physician Dr. Jekyll inadvertently creates an alternate personality of pure evil, dubbed Mr. Hyde, who wreaks murderous havoc on the city of London. As his fiancée Emma grows increasingly fearful for her betrothed, a prostitute, Lucy, finds herself dangerously involved with both the doctor and his alter ego. Struggling to control Hyde before he takes over for good, Jekyll must race to find a cure for the demon he has created in his own mind.

Alyssa Brown served as assistant director with Nick Stanford as music directory. Production Stage Manager Isabella Pons designed the impressive choreography and Isabella Bouffard stepped up as the dance captain. The choreography for “Bring on the Men” set in the pub with red, white and black costumes was both appropriate and effective.

The song that opened the second act, “Murder, Murder” is a unique one, but chillingly set up Act II. I originally thought that the frequent reprises of the number “Facade” would become too repetitive, but I began to look forward to their return.

The fact that Javen Levesque made his musical theater debut in the extremely demanding title role is almost unbelievable. If I hadn’t been warned by DiPiertro’s mother at the box office, I would have thought that it was a typo in the virtual program. Levesque is a violinist with an innate passion for music and previously played with the Thames Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra. This young performer gave a most impressive performance as both Dr. Jeckyll and the evil Mr. Hyde, both at the same time for one well-lit scene. Vocally, he easily switched from a strong belt to more quiet singing. He did well with all of his solos, especially “This is the Moment.” I hope to see Levesque in future productions.

Olivia Testa was excellent in the difficult role of Lucy Harris in her fourth GUSCO show. She is a rising sophomore at Long Island University-Post in the BFA Musical Theater program, a place where she belongs. Her “Someone Like You” was heartbreakingly beautiful. Soprano Lauren Fitzgerald sang beautifully in the role of Emma Carew in one of her favorite shows. She is a rising sophomore at Manhattan School of Music.

Benjamin Marin did very well as Dr. Jekyll’s friend/lawyer John Utterson in a great costume; he will study music education at CCSU. Morgan Greger, entering her final semester at Tunxis Community College, played Nellie. Corrine Dandelski was a delight in the role of Lady Beaconsfield in her first GUSCO show; she is a rising sophomore at CCSU.

General Lord Glossop was played by Rocky Ross, who will attend CCSU, in their first GUSCO show. Amity High School graduate Emmett Pryor (“Anastasia,” “Mamma Mia!” at Amity) played the role of a bishop in his first GUSCO show. He will head to Pace University in the fall. Miguel Pagan played Sir Archibald Proops in his ninth musical and Caitlin Hildebrand stepped out of the ensemble to cover the role of Miss Poole.

Finn McCarthy covered two roles, the broad Lord Savage and Spider in his first GUSCO show. He will be a sophomore at ECSU in the fall pursuing a BFA in Theater/Dramaturgy and is a songwriter/producer under the alias Finn Emerson.

In the busy and and very effective ensemble were Kalista Santiago, Alexia Reyes (soloist,) high school junior Miranda Muscara, Bristol Central High School senior Isabella Bouffard, and Kylie Bernier (Bissette.)

Lauren Wiedenmann (Joanne in “Rent”) played the role of Madame Danvers, the mother of Emma, in her second GUSCO show. She is a rising freshman at Emerson College studying Theatre Education and Business in Creative Enterprises. Carter Kane did very well with the role of Simon Stride in his second year with GUSCO. Kane will begin his theatre major at UCONN in the fall.

Chad Breer and Bill Ding Theatricals designed and built the somewhat spooky set. Sound design by Thunder and Lightning Productions worked well; the company also was the production/theater manager. Anthony Yovina worked out the fight choreography.

Nick Stanford conducted the onstage band behind keyboard 1, C Descoutures covered keyboard 2, Michael Wyatt was on the drums, Emly Byrne was on bass, Jack Sherman was on guitar, and Phoebe Suzuki played the important violin.

Congratulations to the GUSCO production team and this talented group of students on a memorable 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. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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