A cast of four take on multiple roles and the play features narration to the audience alongside action, with harmonic and haunting songs and dramatic heart-pounding music adding to the drama and helping break up what can sometimes be long scenes of dialogue.
Blake Kubena as Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde is charismatic and terrifying in one. His voice is a remarkable instrument, filling the stage with rich, smooth, mellow and bellowing tones. He really is captivating both as the frustrated Dr Jekyll and the deranged and violent Hyde.
Not only is his dialogue superb but his physicality is too – especially in his metamorphosis from one character to another as he battles with the demons in his head. And in a murderous – marvellous – slo-mo scene at the end of the first act with Ashley Sean-Cook.
In fact, the acting from all cast members is exceptional – Zach Lee as Gabriel Utterson and Ashley Sean-Cook as the moralistic long-suffering friend (and entertaining detective) play their roles with complete believability. And Paige Round as Eleanor O’Donnell (plus a housemaid and prostitute) flits from an Irish accent to a cockney with aplomb.
There were moments when we felt as if we were in an English lesson, being told the story rather than simply shown it – but it didn’t take away from the excellent performances.
It’s on until Saturday 13 November at The New Theatre, Cardiff www.newtheatrecardiff.co.ukÂ
For further tour dates visit Blackeyed Theatre