"Jekyll & Hyde" by The Expressions Academy of Performing Arts.

The Create Theatre, Mansfield.

Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic gothic thriller, "Jekyll & Hyde" is the tale of a brilliant mind gone horrifically wrong, set to a powerful musical score by Frank Wildhorn with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. In an attempt to cure his father’s mental illness by separating “good” from “evil” in the human personality, Dr. Jekyll inadvertently creates an alternate personality of pure evil, Mr. Hyde, who wreaks murder and terror on the city of London. As his fiancée Emma grows increasingly fearful for Jekyll, a prostitute, Lucy, finds herself dangerously involved with both the doctor and his alter ego. Struggling to control Hyde before he takes over for good, Jekyll must find a cure for the evil he has created in his own mind.

Directed and choreographed by Lynn Nelson, this production has so much "edge of the seat" anticipation, and pulls no punches when it comes to the terror element. There's a real feel of being unnerved as the auditorium is kept mainly in the dark with haze swirling around to create that foggy London eeriness. A backdrop projection with rain, dark clouds and bats flying around, illuminated by the moon, coupled with gloomy incidental score, Big Ben tolling and the squeaks of the bats. Before the music and action start you're already slightly on edge.

Jamie Smith plays a likeable Henry Jekyll but shows the horror and anguish of his alter ego taking over extremely well. A really physical role which I feel Jamie takes in his stride. I love the way that everything about Jekyll and Hyde are opposites. Jamie is blond, has a sweeter voice and is more slight of build as opposed to Hyde.

Edward Hyde is played by Adam Elliott, who is more well built, slightly taller, which works really well in the transformation sections. Hyde is dark haired and Adam has a rockier voice. You can almost hear the vitriol spat out in the songs as Hyde gets ever the more evil. As with Jamie, Adam is a physical actor and both embody their characters well. You're able to buy into the characters and there are several times when Hyde appears suddenly when you start to grip your seat.

Jekyll's fiancee, Emma, is played by Libby Johnston. I've said this previously but this is a very physical piece of theatre and it's not just the men in the cast that get to perform physically, because Libby, at times, also gets to be mercilessly pulled around, especially by Hyde. A lovely singing voice and a cracking character actor as well.

Shannon Lockey plays Lucy Harris. Another well observed character; from the voice, the accent, even the swagger of Lucy's movements and attitude, it's all there, captured perfectly by Shannon. I'd actually forgotten about the way that Lucy dies, so this also was another moment when a sharp intake of breath was needed.

John Utterson, Jekyll's best friend and confidante, is another piece of wonderful observation of a character driven role. Played impeccably by Harry Bailey.

Director Lynn has also surrounded the main characters with some excellent supporting actors. Jessica Marriott (Lady Danvers-Carew), Jessica Moore (Nellie), Sean Singh - who looks like a young Daniel Radcliffe ( Simon Stride), Joe Keegans (The Bishop Of Basingstoke), Kyle Linn (The Priest), Eleanor Bailey (Lady Beaconsfield), Charlie Kerry (Lady Annie Proops), Destiny Pink - which is a great name for an actor (Lady Glossop), Thomas Davies (Lord Savage), Devon Pearson (Spider) and Kieran Aisbitt (Poole).

And a meaty ensemble consisting of Max Abbott, Kazie Brown, Logan Elvin, Maddison Gillen, Beth Nichols, Caitlin Ward, Katie Wise, Leah Anderson, Harrison Dean, Keenan Flynn-Parkinson, Hannah Moore, Grace Proudlock and Mikayla Winfield.

The score for "Jekyll & Hyde" has some very powerful songs, and is practically sung all the way through. With the style of the songs and the incredible harmony sections, this is no easy task for a theatre group to take on. It has some beautiful highlights such as "This Is The Moment", sung with great power and control by Jamie, "Someone Like You" and "In His Eyes", all providing a softer sound, while the song "Murder Murder" heightens the fear factor. Musical Director Adam Howell has done a superb job with this extensive soundtrack.

My one and only gripe was that the backing incidental music was at times a little loud and it sometimes swamped the actor, making it difficult to hear the spoken word, but apart from that, I loved the production. It was gripping, full of tension, the fight choreography was done well, the acting was superb and there's some excellent vocalists and character actors within this group.

I unfortunately only caught the final production of their four day run, but I hope that the previous nights were as well received as Sunday afternoon's crowd, with a standing ovation that was truly, and richly deserved.