When you hear the words "Youth Theater" you most likely think of
performances that only impress because young people work so very hard to do
them. Fugetaboutit! While there are some smaller parts in this ambitious and
satisfying production that are a bit unimpressive, the strengths are so very
strong that you won't have much time to be making allowances for youth. The
production will only be performed four times and the three leads are sung by
two different teams. The team performing on opening night - 17 year-old
Miguel Amaguana, 16 year-old Tracy Ramsay and 15 year-old Elizabeth Askins -
bring voices so powerful, so polished and so well used that they dominate an
otherwise capable student production, raising it to another level. If the
second team is only half as good as they are, the show will be twice as good
as most people expect from a youth theater production. Notable as well is
the fine work of Melvin Logan who may be the old man on the block as he's
actually a college student in his second Act Two production. He's impressive
both as a singing actor handling the part of the good doctor's best friend
and attorney, and as the lead dancer in the evocative stage-ballets
performed in silhouette before the backdrop of Victorian London.
Storyline: In Victorian London young physician Dr. Henry Jekyll believes he
is on the verge of success in his experimental effort to separate good from
evil in a person in order to allow the evil to be controlled. Denied permission
to experiment on a human patient, he tries the formula on himself. It
releases his evil side who adopts the name Edward Hyde. The experiment gets
out of hand and Hyde goes on a murderous rampage. Can Jekyll get the
experiment under control before Hyde kills again?
There is a strong
story providing a good deal of interest even if you already know the famous
Robert Louis Stevenson story on which it is based. The score has a
pop-operetta sound most notable in its famous song "This Is The Moment"
which seemed to be sung at every sporting event and played for every figure
skater in the late 1990s. It also provides soaring solos for its two female
leads and production numbers like "Bring On the Men" and "Murder, Murder," a
complex quartet and lovely duets like "Take Me As I Am" for the good doctor
and his fiancée. The loveliest of all, however, is "In His Eyes," the duet
between the doctor’s fiancée and the prostitute who has attracted the
attention of the evil Hyde. This number was a high spot on Broadway and is a
highlight of this production.
Amaguana nails most of the demanding vocal moments of a very demanding
score. Indeed, even on Broadway the role was deemed too demanding for one
star to perform eight shows a week. The duties were divided between an
"evening guy" (initially Robert Cuccioli who was nominated for a Tony Award
for his efforts) and a "matinee guy" (Robert Evan who graduated to the night
time assignment when Cucciolli left in the second year of the run). Amaguana's delivery of "This Is The Moment" is his most thrilling. Askins'
purity of voice set a lovely standard with "Take Me As I Am" and Ramsay
belted "Bring On The Men" nicely. It was when the two of them blended so
well on "In His Eyes" that they each hit an evening's high.
The physical production is impressive with a visual impact of red and
black fitting the gothic nature of the story. The decision to use a video
effect of a mirror during the final "confrontation" between Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde distracted from rather than enhancing the effectiveness of the
scene, but otherwise the production was visually satisfying all night long.
As is our habit with student performances, we don't single out those who
don't quite hit their notes or deliver their lines smoothly, but there are
some notable performances in smaller roles that should also receive mention.
Most notable is a young man who handled the small part of the proprietor of
the brothel, "Spider." He's 20 year-old Cory Watkinson. He's the other
Jekyll/Hyde who will sing the lead role Friday night and Sunday matinee. His
strength in the smaller role bodes well for the performances he will lead.
Music by Frank Wildhorn. Book and lyrics by
Leslie Bricusse. Conceived for the stage by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn.
Directed by Kevin Kuchar. Music direction by Keith Tittermary. Choreography
by Dana Verner. Production designed by Scott Selman. Cast: Miquel Amaguana
or Cory Wilkinson, Elizabeth Askins or Laura Semple, CJ Bergin, Pacey
Berman, Jasmine Bossie, Kenzie Delaney, Stephanie Eisig, Dylan Halpern,
Erika Krouse, Melvin Logan, Rachel Lyons, Samantha Melkonian, Alexandra
Morton, Anna Piper, Marion Levy-Qualls, Tracy Ramsay or Amanda Spellman,
Stephanie Rigizadeh, Adin Walker, Julia Watkinson, Sean Watkinson.
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