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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Jekyll & Hyde Also see Gil's reviews of The Nerd and She Loves Me
Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," the musical follows Dr. Henry Jekyll, a London physician determined to separate humanity's good and evil impulses through scientific experimentation. When a hospital board refuses to approve financing and test subjects for his proposed research, Jekyll tests his formula on himself, unleashing Edward Hyde, his darker and increasingly violent alter ego. As Hyde's murderous impulses grow, Jekyll struggles to maintain control while navigating his relationships with his devoted fiancée, Emma, and Lucy, a vulnerable yet strong-willed woman he meets at a seedy London club. Frank Wildhorn's score, with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, features an abundance of soaring ballads, including several that have become musical theatre standards, such as "This Is the Moment," "Someone Like You," and "In His Eyes," that give the leads in this production ample opportunities to showcase their vocal abilities. However, the music is also somewhat similar sounding, especially the ballads, and brooding as well as heavy on exposition, with characters frequently explaining their feelings, motivations, and the story's increasingly complicated developments through song. While some numbers are more dramatically engaging than others, fortunately, the score's sweeping melodies and emotional intensity suit the menacing and gothic subject matter. The decision to cast a male actor as Lucy is perhaps the production's most fascinating, if occasionally problematic, element. Because the script and pronouns remain unchanged, the audience is left to wonder how to interpret the character. Are we meant to see Lucy as a drag performer or a cross-dresser, as Lucy is seen wearing a bra and women's clothes, or is Lucy simply the stage name of a young gay man at a club to whom Jekyll finds himself attracted? The latter interpretation arguably makes the most dramatic sense, particularly given where the two meet and that the connection that develops between them comes off as secretive and somewhat shocking at first to Jekyll. There's also the fact that, while Lucy wears women's clothes, we always assume the character's a young man since there's never a pretense in the character's speaking or singing voice to make us think otherwise. However, the introduction of violence when Jekyll becomes Hyde complicates that depiction, potentially framing a same-sex attraction as one that can only be dangerous or destructive. Musical theatre purists may scoff at this casting decision and while it didn't completely work for me, it still offers a thought-provoking new perspective on both the musical and Stevenson's original story. As Jekyll and Hyde, Derek Neumann is excellent, creating a compelling distinction between the doctor's earnest idealism and his alter ego's menacing brutality. His performance gives the central conflict an immediacy that anchors the production. Neumann's voice soars on his many songs and he does a great job creating two distinct personalities for Jekyll and Hyde by simply altering his posture and voice. Zeke Collins is equally effective as Lucy, projecting just the right balance of strength and fragility while making the character's vulnerability and resilience equally apparent. Collins' portrayal never panders to caricature or stereotype, instead creating a layered, nuanced depiction of, assumedly, a young gay man who has found himself at the bottom of the barrel, performing in a seedy London club but looking for a way out to a better life. Neumann and Collins project both a caring connection together when Neumann is playing Jekyll as well as a rough and intense one when he's turned into Hyde. There were several times during the show that Collins' wonderful performance reminded me of the character of Molina in Kiss of the Spiderwoman, another gay character who finds himself in a tender yet also violent relationship with an assumedly straight man. If that musical is ever done in the Valley, I'd highly recommend someone cast Collins in the role. As Emma Carew, Jekyll's fiancée, Shaylen Sparrow projects elegance and concern with a lovely singing voice that shines throughout, and Tyler Fleck does good work as Jekyll's devoted friend John Utterson. The supporting cast includes Scott Springer as Emma's loving father, Jamie Graves as the uppity Lady Beaconsfield, Ryan Malikowski as the imposing Simon Stride, Kori Stearns as the vivacious Nellie, and the rest of the ensemble cast delivering a range of characters, both humorous and frightening. Paul Yount's direction achieves exactly what you'd want from a production of this musical: emotional connection, clear characterizations, and a dark, sinister dive into the good and evil sides of the title characters. He makes good use of the small stage, and while his set design is fairly minimal, it clearly establishes with just a few set elements Jekyll's laboratory and Lucy's flat. The rest of the production's creative elements largely support its dark sensibility. Liz Witte's moody lighting and shadowy visuals establish a suitably unsettling world, although the low lighting occasionally makes it difficult to see the performers clearly when their expressions and reactions matter most. The costumes by Jamie Graves and Paul Yount are a lovely mix of Victorian styles and modern touches. Also, while Abby Gellman's music direction delivers some lovely harmonies and impressive vocals and the small venue provides an intimacy to the plot, the absence of microphones also means some cast members need greater vocal projection to ensure their lyrics are heard consistently, even in such a small space. Despite a few technical shortcomings and some complications arising from its unconventional casting choice, Jekyll & Hyde at Emerald City Players still makes for an intriguing theatrical experience. Its three strong central performances, atmospheric direction, and willingness to approach familiar material from a different angle make it a compelling exploration of the darkness that can reside within us all. Emerald City Players' Jekyll & Hyde runs through October 11, 2026, at Main Street Creative Arts Center, 933 E Main St, Mesa AZ. For tickets and information, please visit www.emeraldcityplayers.com. Director: Paul Yount Cast: |
