Jekyll and Hyde

Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox

Guess what I got to see at the Pantages Theatre (see yesterday's post)?  The musical Jekyll and Hyde!

Actually, I saw Jekyll and Hyde, the musical, back in the 1990s, over at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.  It turns out this new Jekyll and Hyde is based on the old show, completely retooled.  The original show I saw was... okay.  There were some stand-out voices, some good music, but it wasn't anything spectacular.

The retooled version, featuring musical veteran Leslie Bricusse's pounding rock score, isn't okay at all.

It's WOW.  Outstanding.  And highly entertaining.

Teal Wicks and Constantine portray Emma Carew and Dr. Henry  Jekyll

This show was such a treat.  First of all, getting the ticket was a total surprise - a gift from a kind friend.  Second of all, it was at my favorite theatre, the Pantages in Hollywood. Thirdly, seeing American Idol 4th Season veteran Constantine Maroulis on-stage was a lot of fun, too!

Substance Abuse Alert: Dr. Jekyll is up to no good

Most everyone knows the story, I believe, of the good doctor who seeks to eradicate evil from the world but instead becomes a part-time hideous monster himself.  In this version, Dr. Jekyll is motivated to help his mentally ill father. His experiments lead to the development of a substance that is supposed to alter brain chemistry.  Unable to find a subject for his experiments, he injects himself with the potion...

..and unleashes the horribly evil Mr. Hyde upon an unsuspecting London.

The evil Mr. Hyde getting ready to murder his sixth victim

Okay, girls, the evil Mr. Hyde is hot.  Rock Star hot.  Which is a sad thing as he's also a malevolent brute who begins killing everyone who ever disagreed with him.

Watching six murders on-stage a few feet away - we were in the 3rd row - was a bit disconcerting.  It wasn't so much the gore (which was non-existent), as the idea of it, that I objected to.  However, this is not a happy tale, and it is very much an allegory about the potential for both good and evil inside each of us.

But, you and I know, although we don't always care for them in person, we kinda like the bad boys when they show up on-stage and on-screen.

So shoot me.  

Constantine has a powerful set of pipes, and as the story progresses, this show becomes more and more a rock concert with Mr. Hyde as the ultimate Rock Star.

The steampunk wardrobe and set design amplify this image, making for a very interesting theatre experience.

Jekyll and Hyde is currently on a 25-week tour which will culminate in a Broadway run.  Let me issue a word of caution: this is not a show for everyone.  The elderly couple sitting next to me left at intermission - powered out, I believe, by the very large speakers in front of them to their right.

On the other hand, if you want to see Constantine in person, and are up for a rock concert, you may enjoy this show a great deal.