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Of two minds: Adobe Theater takes a modern-day approach to Gothic classic 'Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde'
From left, Garrick Milo (Jekyll), Emily Cox (Elizabeth Jelkes) and Michael Weppler (H.K. Lanyon/Hyde No. 3) star in 鈥淒r. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.鈥�
Published
Modified
As the leaves crisp and the pumpkins glow, the Adobe Theater is ushering in Halloween with 鈥淒r. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde.鈥�
Slated for Friday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Nov. 10, this adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson鈥檚 novella 鈥淭he Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde,鈥� takes a modern-day approach to this Gothic classic.
鈥淭he original intention was that only six actors would fill all the parts,鈥� said director Yannig Morin. 鈥淚 cast a few more.鈥�
Gabriel John Utterson, a reserved and morally upright lawyer, and his cousin Richard Enfield, are on their weekly walk when they reach the door of a mysterious, unkempt house. Enfield says months ago, at three o鈥檆lock in the morning, he witnessed a malevolent-looking man named Edward Hyde deliberately trample a young girl after a seemingly minor collision. Enfield forced Hyde to pay her family 100 pounds to avoid a scandal. Hyde brought Enfield to this door and gave him a check signed by a reputable gentleman later revealed to be Dr. Henry Jekyll, Utterson鈥檚 friend and client.
鈥淭hat begins the mystery,鈥� Morin said.
Jekyll claims he created his famous concoction to separate good from evil. He says he has held himself to strict moral standards publicly, but indulged in unstated vices and struggled with shame. He found a way to transform himself and thereby indulge his vices without fear of detection.
鈥淏ut there鈥檚 more nefarious reasons going on,鈥� Morin said. 鈥淗is claim of wanting to do good for humanity might not be sincere. This new revelation creates problems. We see something of a split personality going on between himself and Hyde.鈥�
The play is 鈥渇illed with twists and special reveals,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 intended to be a PG-level of disturbing.鈥�
Critics have penned countless essays on the meaning of the original story.
Stevenson 鈥渨as short on money,鈥� Morin said. He produced this short little horror fiction because they were very popular.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think he meant it to be the pop-cultural juggernaut it has become,鈥� Morin continued. 鈥淗e made a lot of references to Victorian England in the 1860s鈥� Victorian standards, virtues, vices. The lower classes were reflected on poorly; the mid and upper classes were looked upon as virtuous.鈥�
Addiction is also a theme running throughout the story, he added.
鈥淗e drinks it and turns into another type of person.鈥�
