Reviewed by Emma Stubbs
Well this is awkward. I’ve never written a negative review before, but after watching Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford, I’m afraid I’m going to have to.
I roughly knew the plot of the Robert Louis Stevenson novel before watching and was intrigued to see how David Edgar would interpret it for the stage. Sadly, the script is full of clunky exposition, spouted in a maddening rush to the point where you’re never entirely sure what the cast are saying, or what relevancy it has to the story being told. The dark Victorian set was minimal and dreary, pushed into place by cast members who then lingered for a moment, before departing. I imagine it was trying to make some kind of statement, but it just looked incredibly awkward.
I think the lighting was supposed to look moody and Gothic but was actually just so dark that it might as well have actually been lit by the prop lanterns the characters carted around. When the lighting of an actual match brings a small thrill of joy that you can see a bit more of what’s gone on, something somewhere has gone very wrong.
To the cast’s credit, they try to do the best they can with the script they’ve been handed. In particular, Robin Kingsland as Utterson and Grace Hogg-Robinson as Annie carried the weight of the show, but it felt like they were capable of so much more.
Phil Daniels of Quadrophenia stars as Jekyll and Hyde, but there was very little distinction between the two personas. The back hunched a little, his accent deepened to the point where I could only pick out 3 of every 5 words, and his hands were held in a crooked manner, but you had to be paying attention to catch that one. I’m used to suspending my disbelief – it’s clear that Christopher Reeve’s Clark Kent couldn’t possibly be Superman, but I’m at a loss to work out how Jekyll’s friends didn’t realise that their friend had just got a bit more Scottish.
To its credit, the Alhambra was as charming and hospitable as ever. It’s a remarkable theatre – one of the nicest I’ve had the fortune to visit, and there’s ample parking in the vicinity for anybody who wants to visit, with two multi story car parks within walking distance. The nearby Jacob’s Well car park offering a cheaper parking alternative, although isn’t available for weekday matinee shows.
At its heart, I think Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde could have been a fantastic piece of theatre, and there’s every possibility you’ll see more in it than I did, but for me, it just didn’t work.
Rating: 1.5/5
Tickets cost from £15 to £29 (booking fees may apply).
Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde is at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford from 17-21 April 2018, for more information or to book tickets visit www.bradford-theatres.co.uk or call the box office on 01274 432000.
Alhambra Theatre, Morley Street, Bradford, BD7 1AJ | 01274 432000
