Forth Children’s Theatre have been performing at the Fringe for many years and this is their 30th production. Previous years’ productions have sold out and this is likely to do so as well.
The musical is based upon the book by Robert Louis Stevenson and the score was written by Frank Wildhorn for the Broadway production.
The location is London in the late nineteenth century. Henry Jekyll is a well-meaning doctor who dreams of being able to remove the evil side from men’s personalities. He develops a drug to do this and tries to find someone on whom to experiment. First he asks the governors of a hospital to let him try it on a patient but they turn him down. Then he visits a brothel to see whether there is anyone there who would be suitable, but with no success. Eventually he decides that he has to try it on himself, which he does with disastrous consequences. Instead of removing the evil side of his personality, it results in the creation of a monstrous, dangerous being, Edward Hyde, who gradually takes him over, with ultimately tragic consequences.
The action takes place upon a raised, elaborate multi-layered set. Cast members appear from above, around and even through the scenery. The lighting is deliberately kept low to enhance the darkness of the story. Everyone involved is enthusiastic and energetic and the singing is extremely good. There are a few missed notes towards the end, probably due to tiredness, which is not surprising given the length of the production.
[Alan Chorley]
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