Michael Palmer plays many roles throughout: of course he plays Jekyll and Hyde but also enacts the supporting characters of Utterson and Lanyon. He uses props to differentiate the characters but he also changes his voice, mannerisms and adapts his style accordingly. His acting talent is obvious; to play not just one but several characters throughout a performance convincingly is impressive.
The staging, lighting and sound is also a major part of the production. Through the lighting, the audience is transported from Jekyll’s well-lit office, to the street where Hyde prowls looking for his prey, and back to Jekyll’s sinister laboratory. The music and voices used in the background give the audience a sense of disquiet throughout and the first occasion where Utterson meets Hyde is particularly eerie. The audience can hear a growling but cannot see Hyde, encouraging us to create a monster in our minds.The story develops well from Utterson’s worrying that Jekyll is indebted to Hyde through to the inevitable conclusion where Jekyll explains his experiment. The scene where Jekyll talks about the duality of man’s nature was compelling and one of the more thoughtful moments within the production. Palmer also played Hyde extremely well in his top hat, capering amongst the audience and throwing books around - I do hope Blackwells didn’t mind!
The combination of excellent acting from Palmer and a spooky atmosphere provide the perfect setting for Jekyll & Hyde. I also was inspired to reread the novel, having last encountered it at school. Overall, a gothic treat on a cloudy summer evening - not to be missed!