The Harbor Playhouse's Production of Jekyll & Hyde is One to Watch this Halloween Season
Harbor Playhouse's Jekyll & Hyde Musical
On Saturday October 13, 2012 I saw Jekyll & Hyde presented by the Harbor Playhouse in Corpus Christi, Texas. This production was directed by Joel M. Earley and runs until November 4th.
Jekyll & Hyde is a musical that is based on the 1886 novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. This musical version of the classic story premiered in nearby Houston, Texas in 1990. It ran on Broadway from 1997 to 2001.
The Harbor Playhouse players did an excellent job portraying their characters. The actors and actresses not only had to sing and dance but they also had to speak with a late 19th century accent. Standouts in the cast were Jake Raper and Molly Pierce who played Dr. Henry Jekyll/Mr. Edward Hyde and Lucy Harris respectively.
Jake Raper tackled the difficult role of Jekyll and Hyde head-on and committed 100% to his performance. Using only his hair and subtle costume changes he was able to transform from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde. He probably burned a day’s worth of calories a night with this very physical role. His shining moment in this play was during ‘The Confrontation’ scene. He never missed a beat as he changed from one character to another very quickly.
Molly Pierce brought a little fun to this dark play. Her performance in Bring on the Men livened up the theatre. Her mischievous smile was contagious as she sang about her love of men. It is obvious that Molly Pierce is at home on the stage and loves what she does. On the other end of the acting spectrum, her heartfelt performance of ‘Someone Like You’ showcased her dramatic singing and proves that she is one to watch for in the future.
A special note of recognition should also go to Colin McKeen for lighting and special effects. His work was a character in itself and added to the actor’s performances. Everyone in the company should be proud of their work in this musical.
Jekyll & Hyde runs from October 12 through November 4th. Tickets can be purchased on Harborplayhouse.com. If you are not in Corpus Christi during its run, Jekyll & Hyde is currently touring nationally.
