The OVADA Gallery on Oxford’s Osney Lane is housed in an old warehouse with whitewashed brick walls, a long wooden staircase running up to a mezzanine section and an ominous, and very large, red wooden door, the perfect setting then for Creation Theatre’s current production Jekyll & Hyde.
The atmosphere builds immediately as the characters subtly involve the audience in a drinks party and game of cards, spotlights on the characters casting huge spooky shadows on those white-washed walls, scratchy old records playing on a gramophone, and, when not centre stage, the actors tap eerie melodies on an upright piano.
Helen Eastman‘s adaptation of R. L. Stevenson’s classic Gothic novella is thus instantly thrilling as the story begins to unfold, because behind the red door lives the well-regarded and eminent scientist Dr. Jekyll who has concocted a potion to transform himself into the amoral and feral Mr. Hyde.
‘a great venue, complete with top-notch acting and some inspired staging’
Played so adeptly by a very impressive Jim Scott, he contorts his face, body and speech every time he takes a swig of the potion from a test-tube. At first, Hyde seems to relish the ability to unleash his dark side, but soon the tables begin to turn and the creation begins to control the creator.
Lawyer and Jekyll’s friend, Mr. Utterson (Jack Benjamin) tasks himself with unravelling the mystery that the scientist and madman are one and the same person, Benjamin excellent at conveying the storyline in his role as de facto narrator.
Actor Alex Ansdell also impresses as he dips in and out of roles such as Jekyll’s loyal butler Poole and respected physician Dr. Lanyon in order to present the differing opinions around the themes presented in the story from the repression of human nature to the ethics of scientific research, friendship and loyalty, accountability for one’s actions and the duality of the psyche.
But as an audience member seated in the front row, and an occasional participant, I felt truly spoilt. What a great venue, complete with top-notch acting and some inspired staging from the creative team – tick, tick and tick. Has Creation done it again? Of course it has.
Edward Bliss
Jekyll and Hyde runs at OVADA Gallery until May 17. Go to https://creationtheatre.co.uk/show/jekyll-hyde-2/
