THE STRANGE CASE OF JEKYLL AND HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson REVIEW, adapted by Ross McGregor/The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre/3rd - 28th September 2019

Richard Braine • Sep 06, 2019
‘Do yourself a favour and head to the Brockley Jack’ ★★★★★

I have a small cottage in Southwold, Suffolk. (Oh no not another anecdote, I hear you cry!) Many years ago Mr Adnams - he of the ubiquitous brewery and major landowner in the town- was broached by the up-and-coming George Orwell. “You can’t charge my parents five shillings a week to rent one of your houses”. To take the wind out of his sails the brewer replied, “all right George how about if I charge them three pence a week?” Orwell was taken aback, but remembering his progressive credentials replied, “fair enough Adnams, but remember the object of power is power”.

I would like to think that Ross McGregor, the adaptor and director of this very fine production, would appreciate the story.

Robert Louis Stevenson had his novella ‘The Strange case of Jekyll and Hyde’ published in 1868. The work was heavily influenced by Stevenson’s home city of Edinburgh, in that both the respectable side and its shady nature were looked into. The work was an immediate success and made Stevenson a very rich man.

Mcgregor has moved the story to the twenty first century. Trump has fallen. Both the Democrats and Republicans are gripped with election fever. Out of the chaos emerges the liberal minded Senator Henry Jekyll. He employs as his campaign manager Gabrielle Uttterson. 

Utterson becomes suspicious of the Senator’s friend; a certain Mister Edward Hyde. The race is on for Utterson to discover what power Hyde has over Jekyll.

Mcgregor takes Stevenson’s work and makes it utterly enthralling and relevant for us today. As he says himself: “...all secrets are told, all truths are found....and a final dreadful reckoning takes place”.

Over the years I have much admired Arrows and Traps work and the genius that is Ross Mcgregor. This overtly political work is right up with best stuff they’ve ever produced. Lucy Ioannou as Gabrielle Utterson is simply mesmeric. If she’s doesn’t win every award going there really is no justice. Christopher Tester as Edward Hyde turns in a performance of tremendous evil. This is no barnstorming, chewing up the carpet turn, but one of languid menace and quiet threat. Fair sends a shiver up the spine. Yet, as one would expect from this company, all of the acting is of the highest order. Take a bow Will Pinchin, Charlie Ryall and Gabrielle Nellis-Pain.

Charlotte Cooke’s work as set designer is deceptively simple yet draws you in superbly. The sound design of Alistair Lax is never obtrusive but adds so much to the piece. But it really is ‘hats off’ to Mcgregor. His spare, muscular and dextrous use of language makes this a piece I can’t recommend highly enough.

Do yourself a favour and head to the Brockley Jack as soon as you can.

Oh....and Orwell was to use the phrase, ‘the object of power is power’ again in his seminal work, ‘1984’. Old Mr Adnams dined out on the story - as well as his very fine bitter beer - for the rest of his life.

THE STRANGE CASE OF JEKYLL AND HYDE by Robert Louis Stevenson
Adapted and directed by Ross Mcgregor
Arrows and Traps Theatre
The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
Tues. 3rd to Saturday 28th September
Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London, SE4 2DH
 
Box office: www.brockleyjack.co.uk or 0333 666 3366 (£1.50 fee for phone bookings only)

Dates: Tuesday 3 to Saturday 28 September 2019 at 7.30pm. (NO perfs: Sunday/Monday)
Matinees: Saturday 14th, 21st, 28th at 3.30pm
 
Tickets: £16, £13 conc.

Reviewer Richard Braine is actor, director and playwright. 
As an Actor he has worked extensively throughout the country including Chichester Festival Theatre, Manchester Royal Exchange, Birmingham Rep, and Stephen Joseph Theatre in Yorkshire. His Television and Film credits include: “Calendar Girls”, “Pride, Prejudice and Zombies”, “Finding Neverland”, “Bridget Jones”, “Suspicions of Mr Whicher”, “Mr Selfridge” and many years ago Gussie Fink-Nottle in “Jeeves and Wooster”. He has also filmed over 150 Commercials all over the world. 
He has directed the European premiere of Sternheim/Martin “The Underpants” at The Old Red Lion Theatre and written three plays: “Being There with Sellers”, “Bedding Clay Jones” and “Sexing Alan Titchmarsh”.


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