Review: Good and Evil Collide in Orlando Shakes' DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE

Good and evil. Purity and sin. Divinity and hell. These things are complete opposites and many would argue that people can be either one or the other. But is it possible that both of these traits can live inside of us? Can each of us have a darkness inside of them yearning to be free? In Orlando Shakes' DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE these are the questions audience members find themselves asking.

This familiar tale tells the story of a doctor whose experiments to bring "two streams of consciousness" together goes horribly wrong. The good doctor's friends believe he may be consorting with a fiend and a scoundrel - Edward Hyde - when in reality the two men are closer than they appear.

Set in Shakes' black box theater, this show had the intimate feeling one would expect from a smaller theater, while still making the audience feel as if they were amidst the grandiose and sweeping streets of Victorian London. The set design by Bert Scott was absolutely breathtaking in that the stage itself had very little in the way of physical sets and props, but his use of projection technology gave the perfect amount of eeriness and emphasis on certain characters when needed.

The role of Dr. Jekyll was played superbly by Timothy Williams. His British accent didn't seem faked or forced, and he played the character with both a cool intellect and a fearful indignation of the man he slowly becomes.

The real standouts in the production were the multiple characters who embodied Mr. Hyde, however. While it can be confusing at first since multiple actors play multiple parts, it's easy to catch on who is playing Mr. Hyde at any one time as each actors wears a similar-looking red-streaked vest to distinguish themselves. Steven Lane played the largest role as Hyde, and his sinister and brute-like movements were perfectly fitting for the role. Lane also plays Dr. H. K. Lanyon, a good friend of Dr. Jekyll's, and when he transformed into Hyde the transformation was amazing - he could be a proper Scotsman in one moment, and then absolutely terrifying the next. It was frightening and breathtaking all at the same time.

Gemma Victoria Waldon plays Elizabeth Jekles and her demeanor is completely becoming of a woman living in Victorian times. She could be vulnerable and strong all at once while being completely spellbound by Hyde. Under peculiar circumstances, she quickly falls in love with Lane's Hyde. This was something that seemed lacking story wise - the depth of their love and the reasoning behind it is never fully explained, and it seems odd since they meet under menacing pretenses.

Orlando Shakes' DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE is no doubt creepy and perfect for the Halloween season, but I caution the audience of only looking at it just for those merits. The cast does an outstanding job of not only being terrifying, but keeping the audience on The Edge of their seat in the hopes of answering this simple question: Is Dr. Jekyll's battle within himself a reflection of ourselves?

DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE plays now through November 13 in the Orlando Shakespeare Theater's Goldman Theater. Tickets can be purchased through Orlando Shakes' website.

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