The frightening complexities of human nature are examined up close and personal, in a new production of Jekyll & Hyde, playing at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre.
Not all would be familiar with the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, the 1886 gothic novella written by Robert Louis Stevenson, but this classic piece of literature has been emulated many times over.
Not only have the characters become a vernacular for the good-verses-bad in people, but pop culture has taken the story into many genres of entertainment, including film, television, radio, music, comics, video games and theatre.
Brady Peeti and Lucy Harris
The popular story involves the well-respected scientist Dr Jekyll, who delves into the darkness of science, only to bring out his evil alter ego Mr Hyde and a battle of the two ensures. The adapted plays first began in 1887 and continued in various formats, with the Jekyll & Hyde musical debuting on Broadway in 1997.
Having last appeared in Australia for the 2019 25th Anniversary Concert with Anthony Warlow and Jemma Rix, Sydney’s Hayes Theatre is presenting a production, with direction by Hayden Tee (Les Miserables).
Brendan MacLean plays Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
For Tee, creating the new show involved changes to both the setting and era, which brought about an interesting subtext.
“By changing the setting to the inside of St Jude’s Military Hospital, the production focuses the story on global mental health,” says Tee.
“The last time the human race faced a world crisis on the scale of the pandemic, was the Second World War. Our story is set the year after the war, before the National Health Service was formed, so we examine the imminent post-pandemic mental health crisis through a similar lense. It’s a question of reverting to the past and keeping calm through the blitz or unpacking our history and reconciling our future and inner demons.”
“It holds a magnifying glass to how we all have a demon on one shoulder and an angel on the other” – Hayden Tee
With many current productions raising issues from the Covid pandemic – some intentional and some not – ones such as Jekyll & Hyde have struck a poignant chord with audiences. The duality of human nature and mental health are major themes, along with the good-vs-evil conflicts that so often form a story narrative.
“I think this show is incredibly accessible on many levels,” says Tee.
Georgina Hopson as Emma Carew
“Thematically it holds a magnifying glass to how we all have a demon on one shoulder and an angel on the other. We all have that inner saboteur who undermines us at our most vulnerable moments. Then there’s Frank Wildhorn’s exceptional score, full of glorious melodies, a sweeping accompaniment and excitingly effective key changes.”
Playing the role of Jekyll and Hyde is Australian singer-songwriter Brendan Maclean. Having worked on such shows as Velvet with Marcia Hines, this role marks Maclean’s debut in musical theatre.
Georgina Hopson with Brendan MacLean as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
“I’ve been two-faced my entire life, so I’ve been ready for this role,” jokes Maclean.
“Compared to an original ‘Brendan Maclean’ pop show, this has been like going from the kiddie pool to swimming in the Olympics! The songs are epic, and I sing around eighteen of them, which has been a mental and physical exercise in itself. I also sing a third of them in an entirely different voice and physicality, fluently switching between the two characters, so it’s massive!”
“I’ve been two-faced my entire life, so I’ve been ready for this role,” – Brendan Maclean
Also in the cast are Georgina Hopson as Emma Carew (Phantom of the Opera’s Christine) and in the role of Lucy Harris is transgender wahine Maori actor Brady Peeti.
“Any self-respecting gay man’s favourite song in Jekyll & Hyde is ‘Bring On The Men’,” says Maclean.
“It’s notable for not being sung by either Jekyll or Hyde, but by the mistress of the night, played by Aotearoa Goddess Brady Peeti! That is indeed a moment for me!” he says.
Compared to past shows, the production may be downsized, but it honours the original sound and score, while reinventing for a live band of five, and 14 vocalists. Adding to the renowned cast, many will be intrigued by Louis Stevenson’s original story of a mind gone horrifically wrong.
Hayden Tee Photo credit: Robert Catto
“I do think we all have a bit of Jekyll and Hyde in us,” says Maclean.
“Haven’t we all had to silence that voice that says, ‘If you burn the house down you won’t have to do the dishes?’ On top of it being a no-skips hit factory of a musical, there’s that element of voyeurism, which certainly resonated with me.”
For the director, there’s a similar sentiment in conveying a message of the human psyche, reflected in our modern society.
“I hope audiences think about where we have come from and where we are going, both personally and socially,” says Tee.
“I hope people think about mental health and about accepting their inner saboteur as an inner critic to help us learn and grow. To also think about not turning on ourselves or on others.”
Jekyll & Hyde premieres 29 July at the Hayes Theatre
For more: hayestheatre.com.au
