Star Playhouse Presents JEKYLL AND HYDE THE MUSICAL, Now thru 11/23

There are Broadway musicals that are frothy and flimsy and there are those that are thrillers and haunt you long after you leave the theater. One of the most memorable with that kind of staying power is Jekyll & Hyde the classic tale based upon the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Jekyll & Hyde opened on Broadway in 1997, with 1543 performances over four years and was nominated for four Tony Awards. A local production of that time honored tale opens at Star Playhouse at the Suffolk Y-JCC tonight, November 8.

For those unfamiliar, the story centers on Dr. Henry Jekyll(played by Chris Saltalamacchio of Hicksville ) an aristocratic young Londoner who is fixated on his experiment to unearth the secrets of good versus evil, both of which he believe live in the souls of all mankind. His goal, to eliminate evil. Unable to convince the Board of Governors of St. Jude's Hospital to approve experimentation on a live patient, Dr. Jekyll decides he has no recourse but to experiment on himself. As the result of injecting these untried chemicals his evil self whom he refers to as Edward Hyde comes to the forefront, taking over his will and committing despicable acts of mayhem. Jekyll's conduct endangers his engagement to Emma Carew, his lovely fiancé (Kelsey Gronda of Glenwood Landing). The out of control Hyde develops an uncontrollable passion for and relationship with Lucy (Steffy Jolin of Freeport ) a lady of the night and entertainer at The Red Rat,a bawdyhouse managed by Nellie (Patrice Richardson of Northport), and secretly owned by Jekyll's rival for Emma and nemeses Simon Stride (Adiv Ben David of Coram ) whose evil side has no kinder and gentler alter ego. The Red Rat boasts a bevy of beauties of the night whose companionship is available for a price. Jekyll's inner turmoil is riveting and results in a battle of wills that tears him apart and forsakes any possibility of a happy ending. Songs that both move and uplift include "This Is The Moment", "Someone Like Me", "One Upon A Dream", "In His Eyes", "Bring On The Men", "Facade" and "Alive".

The show is directed by Rick Grossman of Middle Island,and produced by Tina Indenbaum of Smithtown and Barbara Schuler of Huntington.. Chris Rosselli of West Babylon is music director and Leia DePaolo of Dix Hills is choreographer. As are all Star Playhouse productions, the show is performed on a Broadway style set, is elaborately costumed and accompanied by a full live orchestra, sadly something no longer the case at many Long Island theaters.

Performance dates are Saturdays, tonight, November 8 and 22 at 8:00 pm and Sundays November 9, 16, 23 at 2:00 pm. Ticket prices for reserved seating are $24, $21 for Y members, $19 for seniors and students and $17 for Y seniors and students. Group rates are available. The Star Playhouse is handicapped accessible, has a hearing impaired system and ample free parking. For tickets or further information call (631)-462-9800 ext. 136 and ask for Lynn.