The classic battle of good & evil in Jekyll & Hyde

Academy Award and Tony winner Leslie Bricusse, author and lyricist, and Frank Wildhorn, composer, either have something against actors, pahirapan sila or are so exacting of the craft that they just had to come up with one of the most demanding roles ever written. I grant that the musical Jekyll & Hyde is not really their original idea. It is based on a novella written by Robert Louis Stevenson in 1896 about the battle of good and evil. But just the same their male lead requires the tall order of a Jack Nicholson who can sing like Josh Groban.

Jekyll & Hyde is about a brilliant scientist who is obsessed with separating the good and the evil that live in every man. He concocts a potion to do this and experiments on himself. It works at first. He is at times the kind, Dr. Henry Jekyll engaged to the pretty and proper Emma. Then with the potion he becomes the depraved Mr. Edward Hyde attracted to the sexually charged prostitute Lucy.

Then while Dr. Jekyll’s intent is to save lives, Mr. Hyde is a serial killer who stalks the streets of London. It is not long after, that Jekyll loses control over his two personalities and takes the tragic way out.

Stevenson’s creation has been an acting staple for many years. Actors in search of awards typically go into the Jekyll and Hyde mode and lots of times get the trophies. The Black Swan is really Jekyll and Hyde at the ballet. But what makes playing this role in the musical doubly difficult, is that the transformation happens on stage. That means without the aid of special effects and in full view of the audience. De Niro can do that. But can he sing This Is The Moment?

I do not know how Michael Williams did it but he was able to make me believe he was being transformed from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde and back in the Repertory Philippines production of the Broadway show. And he can sing. Not in the grand classical manner or as an over-the-top rocker. But somewhere in between, with full, strong dramatic vocals. He is so good, that he makes you forget that this musical is so heavy and lacking in climactic release.

There is nothing happy about this story. Even the music comes across as leaden at times. But there is still so much to admire about this production. You will find the bright moments in the performances and the spare but dead sure direction by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo. How Pinoys do these things is almost unbelievable. What takes foreigners a long time to master is almost instinctive with local actors. Such was the case with Williams who was effortless. 

The ever-reliable Junix Inocian, home from London’s West End is Utterson, Jekyll’s lawyer and friend who unravels the mystery. Kalila Aguilos has the tall order of playing Lucy, the prostitute who creates confusion in the emotions of Jekyll and Hyde, while Cris Villonco, who had just come from The Sound Of Music, is Emma, the sweet fiancée of Dr. Jekyll. Also in the competent cast are Steve Cadd, Jack Salud, Reuben Uy, Red Nuestro, Mayen Bustamante-Cadd, Jamie Wilson, Jamie Inocian, Oliver Usison, Naths Everett and James Stacey.

You can still catch Jekyll & Hyde this weekend. It is playing at Onstage Greenbelt 1, Makati from April 12 to 15 with performances on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday.

Here is one more stage treat to watch out for this year. The touring company of The Phantom of the Opera comes to Manila for performances starting on Aug. 25 up to Oct. 14 at the Main Theater of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. If I am not mistaken, this is the first time that we will have the chance to watch this show in the Philippines. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is truly a sight and sound to behold. It is made up of beautiful songs, Music Of The Night, eye-popping sets like the falling chandelier and a moving love story. I just hope we will not have to pay an arm and a leg to watch it.