The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (tour – Newbury, Watermill)

Rhum and Clay
Production Company was founded at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe two
years ago by the Watermill Theatre’s outreach director Beth
Flintoff. A new collaboration has resulted in a retelling of The
Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

The all-male threesome
– Christopher Harrisson, Julian Spooner and Matthew Wells –
manages to change what is a dark and complex story into a playful and
fun version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale. If you want
a straightforward interpretation of the novella,  this is not for you. However, through fabulous characterisation, the essence
of the story remains and the use of comedy makes some of the darker
scenes more palatable.

The story of the man
with the dual personality has lasted through the generations, and the
production adheres to this. The physical transformation of the
respected Dr Jekyll into the murderous Mr Hyde is achieved through
the physical prowess of the actor, from posture to facial expressions
to the way he moves and speaks.

Indeed, the three
actors take on a variety of roles, and it is with great skill that
they achieve this. They fully embody the characters, whether these
are the Irish maid or the up-and-coming doctor and it doesn’t
detract, or confuse, the action. I am sure that a
production of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde could well
feel as though it was running on too long through all the doctor’s
experiments.

However, through the use of music, mime and even a
little bit of dance, long periods of story telling were
entertainingly told within seconds. Not only does this move
the narrative along but it also provided the audience with an
interlude to the story. The use of comedy avoids it becoming altogether too
intense.

From the moment the actors step out
under the wooden proscenium and interact with the audience, it is
obvious that this is a comedic piece. Indeed, when Danvers Carew is
murdered (without giving too much away) what could be a distasteful
moment of cannibalism is made palatable through the actors’ ability
to use comedy.

– Katherine Graham