Top 6 Thoughts I Had While I watched Jekyll & Hyde on Tuesday night in Belk Theater at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center:
- Constantine Maroulis must really hate playing Jekyll, because that character doesn’t stand with his chin on his chest and and shoulders thrust back, wailing his warbles to the crowd. Hyde, on the other hand, must be his favorite, because he’s all about that smoldering rock star stance. (I remember him doing it back in the day on American Idol. He’s perfected it in the years since.
- I wonder how much fake smoke they use in each show? That’s A LOT of fake smoke.
- Do you think the set designer was inspired by The Haunted Mansion at Disney World? Because those creepy pictures and wallpaper really remind me of that.
- Dude. Deborah Cox and Teal Wicks just stole the show with “In His Eyes.”
- All of that cape flapping seems a bit excessive, Mr. Maroulis. Perhaps you should stick to smoldering looks.
- Is anyone else here besides me thinking about how Teresa Giudice kept calling her castmates “Heckle and Jyde” on the Real Housewives of New Jersey Reunion show?
In 1999, I saw my first Broadway show actually on Broadway. I’d seen lots of other shows in London’s West End before I’d ever been to New York, and I’d gotten spoiled by the student rates and daytime shows where I sat on the front rows for the equivalent of 20 bucks. When I saw Jekyll & Hyde on Broadway, Sebastian Bach had just finished his term as the lead and a UGA grad had taken over, so I liked that. That is really all I remembered about it.
The current Jekyll & Hyde is impressive in its set and lighting design. The projection design added unexpected dimension to the show, which was helpful for the “Confrontation” scene in Act Two. Maroulis is a serviceable lead and his acting was better than I expected; however, his voice is not rich enough to carry the show. Redeeming cast members included Cox and Wicks singularly and dueting; their performances made me soften toward the show itself. It’s campy, because it is supposed to be, but it lacked a something – it was the first show I’d seen in a while that I found myself wishing would end. Of course, the last show I saw was Once in New York a few months ago, which I still maintain is the best show I’ve seen. It’s hard to follow that.
Tickets to Jekyll & Hyde were generously provided to me by Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, but all content and opinions are my own.Â
4 Comments on "Jekyll & Hyde: Top 6 Thoughts"
The cape flapping worked for me. I loved everything about this show. I have been attending Broadway shows for almost 50 years- Jeklyy & Hyde was fantastic.!
Glad you enjoyed it, Cheryl!
We need to go to a show together-now you have me wanting to see Once..
It was the best show I’ve ever seen. Ever.