Review: JEKYLL AND HYDE at Charlotte Theater, The Sacrifice

What would you do when you have a brilliant scientific theory that nobody supports? Would you risk the consequences of losing yourself just for the results? Though this may seem highly unlikeable, one doctor with the name of Dr. Henry Jekyll decided to sacrifice himself to prove his theory. The story of his extraordinary experiment, JEKYLL, AND HYDE the Musical returned to Korea for a 7-month long run, lined up with an amazing cast. The first show opened on November 13th at Charlotte Theater and has been receiving many positive reviews with sold-out shows continuously.

As one of the most beloved musicals in Korea, JEKYLL AND HYDE have its base on the novel, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. With lyrics and music written by Frank Wildhorn, JEKYLL AND HYDE the musical had its Broadway debut in 1997. Since then, there have been various international productions with different languages including Buenos Aires, Frankfurt, and China. The first Korean production opened in 2014 and has been continuously reproduced yearly. Not only did the Korean production receive much popularity, JEKYLL AND HYDE became a musical where many musical actors admired to take a part in.

This year's production gained much more attention than ever after the cast was revealed. The three actors, who were cast for the role of Jekyll, Park Euntae, Hong Gwangho, and Cho Seung-woo, sold out the first few show weeks instantly the minute tickets were opened online. As all three are well known talented musical actors, the show received many positive reviews. Also, two actors, Min Woohyuck and Jeon Dongsuk were added to the cast, joining the production starting from April. The cast is overall in harmony with actors that have done this show before and new actors that are freshly joining the show. With this, there have been improvements in the show's storyline, making this year's production an upgraded version.

There were two aspects that stood out in JEKYLL AND HYDE the musical. The first was the various special effects used throughout the show. There were scenes where special effects played an important role in making a clear image. As the show is 170 minutes in total, the special effects managed to grab the audience's attention in parts, making them be more focused on the show. The next astonishing aspect was the acting of the actors who portrayed Jekyll, especially for the song, "Confrontation," where a single actor has to act and sing as both Jekyll and Hyde. In seconds, the actor had to switch back between the two characters while belting. This scene was truly the most unforgettable of the entire show.

Whether it is a Korean production or an international tour, JEKYLL AND HYDE are always of a popular demand with multiple sold out shows. This year's production, with its amazing cast and developed storyline, constantly impresses the audience daily. Do not miss the opportunity to see the show of how a young man sacrifices everything due to an obsession of a theory nobody approved of.

JEKYLL AND HYDE the musical performs at the Charlotte Theater until May 19th. Tickets start at 60,000 KRW and can be purchased at the www.interparkglobal.com or at the box office online.

For more information, please visit www.interparkglobal.com.

Photo Credit: OD COMPANY

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