North Coast REP Welcomes Fall Season by Bringing the Haunting Tale “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”

With a skillful direction, combined with exceptional design elements that create a chilling and captivating experience 

A Blog View by Alejandra Enciso-Dardashti

(L-R) Bruce Turk, Katie MacNichol, Conner Marx, Jacob Bruce, Ciarra Stroud & Christopher M. Williams photo by Aaron Rumley

The production was directed by the talented artist Shana Wride, who I
saw last onstage in another British play, Present Laughter at
Cygnet, and last year in Into the Breeches! precisely at North Coast. It is great
to witness Wride’s different artistic sides and in this case, creative
choices for the stage, guiding the talented cast, including Jacob Bruce, Katie
MacNichol, Conner Marx, Ciarra Stroud, Bruce Turk, and Christopher M. Williams,
to bring this haunting tale to life that was resolved in a very original form
by grouping the actors to alternate the portrayal of Hyde while intersecting
different characters of the story at the same time that Bruce Turk alternates with Jekyll. Ciarra
Stroud plays the chambermaid, love interest, and trigger, Elizabeth. This
dynamic adds to the already inherent tension of the story by having to follow
the ping-ponging of the actors as they tag for the interpretation of Dr. Henry
Jekyll’s alternate personality. Although the weight of the story naturally
inclines towards Bruce Turk who has not disappointed yet, there is nothing but
histrionic power in this cast as everyone is captivating while giving each
other space to stand out and have their own moment.

Elisa Benzoni’s wardrobe design featuring a checkered vest and striped pants
for the ensemble, sort of a uniform, made for a wonderful combination that adds
to the visual appeal of the production. Worth noting that Elizabeth stands out wearing
the same patterns but instead of pants, she wears a skirt and instead of a tie, a bow,
providing a distinct contrast to the rest of the characters. I thought this to
be subtle and brilliant.

Katie MacNichol & Bruce Turk – photo by Aaron Rumley

Marty Burnett’s scenic design transports the audience to the eerie world of
Victorian London very simply by adapting gray walls with sliding doors that showcase the actors’ shadow through Matthew Novotny and Erik Montierth’s blue lighting design
that creates an ethereal and mysterious atmosphere. This consistent visual palette
enhances the sense of unease and adds to the overall sense of dread. Melanie
Chen Cole’s sound design integrated gorgeous suspenseful music, that heightened the tension,
with another layer of intrigue to the narrative. This production was playful with the aesthetic nodding clues to the audience. Another standout feature
is a red door that is placed in the middle of the stage and cleverly moves around,
symbolizing the duality and ever-changing nature of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and, for me, the iconic London red phone booths.

This production is a must-see for theater enthusiasts. The skillful
direction, combined with the exceptional design elements, creates a chilling
and captivating experience that stays with the audience long after the final
curtain call. Currently playing until November 12. For performance dates and
times, please click HERE.