Nathan Darrow Photo by T. Charles Erickson

Dr. Henry Jekyll (Nathan Darrow) is a research scientist who experiments with tinctures and powders. Jekyll is responsible for bringing forth different renderings of himself (think alter ego) in Mr. Edward Hyde. Stevenson's fiction dictates a battle between good and evil: Jekyll is a person of reason but Hyde represents a darker persona. Hatcher does not paint the two versions as being diametrically opposite. Darrow's role requires versatility since Jekyll is anything but a linear character. He is complicated man who is beset with anxiety and seems to be constantly in struggle. Peace of mind does not appear to be attainable. Toward the end of the play, he says, "The will is all one needs. Sin is nothing but weakness." Darrow is convincing and his fellow cast members just as persuasive.

The plot, which transpires in London during the Victorian epoch (1880s), includes other characters as well. Sir Danvers Carew (Nayib Felix) is a physician who is not to be trusted. Dr. H.K. Lanyon (Peter Stray) and Dr. Gabriel Utterson (Omar Robinson) seem to be decent enough people. Elizabeth Jelkes (Sarah Chalfie) is the love interest and it would reveal too much to expand upon that here. Mr. Poole (Jennifer Rae Bareilles) completes the cast.

Scenic designer Sara Brown's set is dark and deep into the performance area. It has an ominous feel. Evan C. Anderson's lighting is somber but shifts and startles to emphasize any one of several, smashing dramatic moments. Costumer An-lin Dauber is of vital importance because her perfect wardrobe choices transport the viewer to nineteenth century England. Jane Shaw delivers the sound and her skill set is vital since this is far from silent theatre.

Jeffrey Hatcher skillfully works with fiction and his stage versions, such as one, years ago, for "The Turn of the Screw" and the current Hartford Stage scripting are both exceptionally well delineated. He both honors and augments Stevenson's text. When one reads the Bensussen/Hatcher conversation in the program, it becomes clear that the playwright spent a significant amount of time delving into and contemplating the Robert Louis Stevenson story.

Melia Bensussen's proactive approach to the material is evident. She lends her interpretation to Hatcher's work which utilizes the Stevenson as a source. Bensussen injects in-your-face emotion, humor, and struggle by emphasizing detail, and her actors are precise throughout. Choreographer Shura Baryshnikov provides an absolutely necessary element, as the performers need be swift, pliable, and able to execute stops and starts flawlessly. Direction and movement combine to create a most stylized performance. Moreover, the blocking is impactful in order to emphasize some striking sequences. The stage projects toward the audience as if extending a figurative hand to ask for further awareness or cognizance.

It's almost Halloween and you or someone you know has heard that Hartford Stage has a scary show on its boards and you're tempted to see it. The good news is that most prospective theatregoers do not need a primer or advanced prepping in order to enjoy the presentation. It is possible to miss something but still enjoy a vigorous and even fun night or afternoon at the theatre. This crackling, less than two hour experience will catch everyone's attention rapidly and hold people (probably on stage and off) constantly captive.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde runs through November 3, 2024, at Hartford Stage, 50 Church St., Hartford CT. For tickets and information, please call 860-527-5151 or visit www.hartfordstage.org.