Incredibly, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde may be the best yet for Williams Lake Studio Theatre Society’s (WLSTS) 69th season.
It’s tough to pick a favourite when you have the musical fairy tale of Cinderella and the retro rocking musical of Mamma Mia, each with some truly stand-out performances, to compare with over a season.
But their production of Jeffrey Hattcher’s adaptation of the classic gothic tale by Robert Louis Stevenson, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, might just have to nudge its way to the top of this reviewer’s list.
The theatre group has managed to surprise and impress with their work in this depiction of the human struggle between good and evil.
In the WLSTS work on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the importance of combining both creativity with hard work and careful execution are highlighted in the tight production.
Starting with the acting, the performances are not only great, but the dedicated work of the actors is also obvious.
Complicated dialogue and actors playing multiple characters, or in the case of Mr. Hyde, multiple actors playing one character, are executed seamlessly. The work which has gone into this play is visible in these clean, convincing performances.
Matt Tyne is once again a stand out actor, his expression, enunciation and character depiction and ability to compartmentalize each role is truly impressive. But there was great work by all the actors, and the faint of heart should be warned to prepare for some convincing and graphic depictions of violence.
Then there are the costumes. With some great steam punk aesthetic, the costuming was beautifully and creatively done and manages to modernize classic 1800s London in a clever way.
The set is also brilliantly done, working perfectly with the costumes. The set also works within the space incredibly well, shifting and adapting and adding to the examination of our many-layered human psyche and experience as Dr. Jekyll faces his demons in the many forms of Mr. Hyde.
Again drawing on a steam punk style, the fine details of the set all appear to function incredible well for something so complicated, which is also impressive.
Director Tanis Armstrong and her co-director and husband Chris Armstrong have managed to put a whole lot of moving pieces into a phenomenal package which do Robert Louis Stevenson and Hattcher’s adaptation justice. The entire cast and crew must be incredibly proud to share this work of theatrical art with the community, and their hard work and talent are absolutely on display.
The play will run Wednesdays to Saturdays from May 1 to May 18 with shows starting at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available online through the wlstudiotheatre.ca website or at The Open Book. Tickets are $25 for adultes, $22 for students, seniors and children. This is a show not to be missed and is the final one of the 2023-24 season.
READ MORE: Williams Lake Studio Theatre takes a trip down music memory lane
Don’t miss out on reading the latest local, provincial and national news offered at the Williams LakeTribune. Sign up for our free newsletter here.