“The Strange Case of Jekyll & Hyde” by Bear Left Theatre Company
College Street Performing Arts Centre.

Don’t imagine that this is just another routine gothic horror story – it raises all sorts of issues about the use and abuse of science, the nature of mental disorder, and the values that drive our society today as much as they did in Victorian England.

Henry Jekyll is a doctor doing cutting-edge research into workings of the human brain. When denied access to human experimental subjects he begins to experiment on himself, with increasingly disastrous effects.

His friend Hastings Lanyon and Lanyon’s wife Eleanor try to support him but their ill-judged efforts to encourage him but to hold him back from his wilder plans make things worse. Jekyll’s despair at his sense that he is close to a major breakthrough but unable to control the effects of his self-administered potions lead to a bleak ending.

The story is narrated by Jekyll's good friend and solicitor, Utterson.

First off, let me say that this six man production deserves a bigger audience than it had tonight and oozes Victorian class and menace.

Arun Hayes (Jekyll) acted the best that I have seen him perform. You could see the character torn, knowing that he would be overcome by the evil alter ego but realising that he was powerless to stop Hyde. He shows that the weaker Jekyll became, the stronger Hyde took over.

Mitch Lockitt (Hyde) is an actor I don't think I've seen before but his portayal of the evil Hyde, complemented by some moody lighting, gave you the creeps. With just a smirk he could send shivers up your spine, and his silences made for uneasy moments.

Mark Wisdom (Utterson) is one classy young actor, with a cut glass accent, reminiscent of Jeremy Brett, as he recalls the chilling tale, building the story to it's crescendo. I admire an actor who can tell a story and keep you transfixed just with the power of the spoken word, and Mark has the power in this play.

Gavin Gordon, played three roles vital to the story in Enfield, Carewe and Lanyon. Again a new name to me on the local theatre scene, and I wonder when actors like Gavin emerge from nowhere - seemingly - where they have been and why haven't I heard of him before. An expressive actor who also shows the signs of being a classic period actor. I'm sure that there is more to be seen from Gavin on the local stages.

Claire Waterall played the most characters, six in all, and all six very different. With just a change of accent or clothing, she transformed from one to the other.

It's quite startling how a good accent can change the whole personality of an actor, and Claire and Mitch, with his secondary character Inspector Newcomen, morphed into another being altogether just by the talent of the accent.

And last, but by no means least, Sally Nix, who played Poole, the manservant to Jekyll. Her conveyance of concern for her master was well portrayed.

Sally also directed this masterpiece, assisted by Arun Hayes, and they go to show that you do not need scenery to create atmosphere and placing. With just a few props, clever lighting, Peter Hodgkinson, and some well chosen sound effects and incidental music, this play created just the right atmosphere.

As I said at the start, this play really does deserve a bigger audience and I for one hope they get it on Friday night, because even after five minutes, you can see the work that has been invested in this production. From the wonderful period costumes to the use of accent, this is one evocative piece of theatre.

“The Strange Case of Jekyll & Hyde” is on until Friday 8 November at the College Street Centre for Performing Arts in Nottingham.