Supporting the Arts in Western Massachusetts and Beyond

October 29, 2024

Review: Hartford Stage, "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde"

Hartford Stage, Hartford, CT
through November 3, 2024
by Shera Cohen

Photo by T. Charles Erickson
An ideal play to commence Hartford Stage’s 2024/25 season coinciding with Halloween is “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde,” Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic.

It is doubtful that no one in the audience was ignorant of the tale of a man with two distinctly opposite personalities; one being somewhat normal, the other the epitome of evil. 

The production is taut, dark, and scary. HS does everything right. The depiction of “J&H” does not follow the usual formula. The play sometimes confuses its audience. It isn’t  just the grade-school audience members seated in the row behind me who repeatedly asked their mom, “Did he kill the other guy? Where did he go?”* [see note below]

The kids wondered aloud the questions that many adults probably thought. The concession line makes for an excellent location to eavesdrop. Lots of puzzles to figure out. However, “J&H” is so well crafted that every patron returned after intermission. Questions are answered in Act II. 

“J&H” may be a director’s dream, as Melia Bensussen (HS’s Artistic Director) stylizes the characters; oftentimes actors can approach their roles over the top physically and/or verbally, yet never scene steal. Without spoiling the story, it is safe to say that nearly every character is a little bit Hyde. Dr. Jekyll’s work is to delve literally into the psyche of what makes a human good or bad, using himself as the litmus test.

“J&H” stars an ensemble cast. Nathan Darrow (Jekyll) creates an upper-crust intelligent fellow who is so tightly-would that the slightest movement is able to make his character snap. Darrow projects the angst and torment that absorbs his Hyde. Yet, throughout the plot, Darrow is not the only Hyde among us. 

No actor outshines any other. The producer and director have selected a troupe of top-notch thespians, with lots of professional theatre credits. These men and women help to bring out the best in each other.

The genius triumvirate of Sara Brown (scenic designer), Evan C. Anderson (lighting designer), and Jane Shaw (sound designer) deserve the highest kudos. Brown has created the exquisite, immense, dark, and chilling set worthy of a Tony Award. That’s only the start: floating doors, at least four escape hatches, winding staircases, windows becoming scientific laboratory beaker cabinets, three acting levels with a person or shadow rear centerstage. Who are these people? Voyeurs? The set must be an actor’s fantasy. Added are startling cracking sounds and instant beaming lights amid soft period music. 

Hartford Stage’s “J&H” is professional theatre at its best, both onstage and backstage.

*Note: Perhaps promotion for “J&H” included recommendations that youth under a certain age should not attend; if so, I hadn’t noticed. It wasn’t just the little girl and her brother seated behind me who jumped at the play’s start. I joined them. Scary stuff. Some language is lewd, one character is a prostitute – something to check prior to taking kids to the theatre. There are many other cultural opportunities in the Pioneer Valley for youngsters to enjoy.