August 1-3, 7-10
Open Air Theater
Washington Crossing
State Park
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Note: The following is a complete synopsis of the events of Jekyll and Hyde. If you plan to come see the show, and want any of the plot developments to be a surprise, do not read this section!
ACT I
Prologue
The voice of Dr. Jekyll
(Greg
Krywusha) is heard. He speaks of duality of man and the struggle within
him between his inherently good side and his evil nature. John Utterson
(Jim
Petro), a lawyer, enters and addresses the audience. Dr. Jekyll, his
friend and client, was engaged in a search to discover the elements of
good and evil present in every personality.
Scene 1
Dr. Jekyll and Sir Danvers
Carew (Tom Bessellieu) are
in a nightmarish hospital ward in London, 1890. Partially dressed bodies
are strapped to wooden tables on one side of separating glass, as Doctors,
Nurses, Attendants, and Visitors move about on the other side of the glass.
Jekyll and Sir Danvers are looking down at an Old Man who is strapped to
a chair. Jekyll explains that he has almost perfected a formula that will
help him to reintegrate the Old Man's mind and emotions. Jekyll promises
the Old Man, who is his own father, that he will find a way to help him
("LOST
IN THE DARKNESS"). He kisses his father's
brow and exits into the London night. As he goes he sings of the anguish
he feels for his father's plight and his struggle to find the solotion.
("I
NEED TO KNOW")
Scene 2
A crowd, including Beggars,
Hawkers, Stevedores, Sailors, Ladies and Gentlemen, and Tradespeople, gathers
in front of a brick wall. They sing of the "FACADE"
that everyone shows to the world while hiding their private, other self.
Scene 3
As the crowd disperses,
the wall disappears to reveal the operating theatre of a clinic. Utterson
watches from the periphery of the operating theatre as Simon Stride (Ryan
Cook) calls
to order the meeting of the Board of Governors of St. Jude's Hospital.
As Jekyll waits, Stride introduces the other attending members: Sir Danvers,
the presiding officer, The Bishop of Basingstoke (Don Gerecke),
The Right Honourable Sir Archibald Proops (Victor S. Miller), Lord
Savage (Mickey Levitan), Lady Beaconsfield (Jen Fisher),
and General Lord Glossop (John Russell). Jekyll presents his proposal
to test a groundbreaking formula he has created that will separate the
dual natures of man. He tells the board that he has discovered a combination
of drugs that can isolate these two personalities and asks permission to
test his drug on hospital patients. When the board members express their
misgivings and vote to withhold their consent for his experiments, Jekyll
angrily insists that the board grants him permission.("BOARD
OF GOVERNORS").
After the board members leave, Jekyll tells Utterson that the board members are fools and hypocrites, and wonders how he can pursue his experiments; Utterson tells him that he should continue with his work if he believes in it ("PURSUE THE TRUTH").
Scene 4
At the lavish engagement
party for Dr. Jekyll and Sir Danvers' daughter, Emma (Melissa Daniels),
the Board of Governors discusses the absurdity of Dr. Jekyll's theories
and wonder why the intense scientist is late for the party. Lady Beaconsfield
also admonishes Sir Danvers that he shouldn't let Emma marry Jekyll. Simon
Stride asks Emma to reconsider her marriage to Jekyll; she tells him that
she isn't the weak woman that he is hoping to marry ("THE
ENGAGEMENT PARTY/EMMA CAREW"). Jekyll
enters as two male guests lament that the much sought-after Emma is about
to be married. Jekyll apologizes to Sir Danvers for his lateness and, with
Utterson, discusses the earlier meeting. When Emma and Jekyll have a private
moment, he tells her that he is concerned that his life of research and
experiment would make her unhappy; Emma reassures him that she loves and
accepts him as he is and begs that he "TAKE
ME AS I AM" in turn. Emma's father and
Utterson enter. Jekyll exits with Utterson, and Sir Danvers mentions that
he, is also concerned with Jekyll's behavior. When Emma protests, he admits
that he is having trouble "LETTING GO".
Scene 5
In a very rough neighborhood
in East London, Nellie (Kathryn Strasser), a prostitute, strolls
in front of her establishment, Red Rat. An aprehensive Utterson and Jekyll
are strolling the streets of this seemier side of London. Jekyll wants
to go inside and he chides Utterson for not giving him a proper bachelor
party. As they enter the Red Rat, the men inside are screaming and clamoring
for the evening's entertainment. Finally, Lucy Harris (Adrienne M. Bogarde),
a prostitute and actress, enters from atop a staircase in a provacative
red dress which causes the uproarious men to immediately quiet. She entertains
the men with a provacative and festive number "BRING
ON THE MEN". After the song Lucy begins
to circulate among the clientele. Jekyll and Lucy are drawn to each other
in a way that promises each of them a great friendship. Before Jekyll departs,
he gives Lucy his visiting card and asks her to see him should she ever
need anything. Spider (Christopher M. Heffron), the owner of the
Red Rat, approaches Lucy and quietly threatens her for not enticing the
gentlemen enough to make the sale.
Scene 6
Jekyll and Utterson have
arrived in front of Jekyll's house. A weary Utterson bids Jekyll goodnight.
Jekyll, alone at the end of the evening, realizes "THIS
IS THE MOMENT" he has been waiting for.
He will be his own patient. He writes an entry in his journal explaining
his actions and drinks down the potion. As he struggles with the changes
occuring within him, he continues, futilely, to try to record what is occurring.
It is too late: Jekyll has been transformed into Edward Hyde.
Scene 7
Hyde, now in the streets
of London, giddily enjoys the feel of being "ALIVE"
and possessing unconquerable power.
Scene 8
Several weeks later, Emma
and Utterson are escorted out of Jekyll's house by his manservant, Poole
(Steven
Torma). After Emma departs, Poole admits that Jekyll is behaving erratically.
He hasn't seen Jekyll for a week but merely lays his meals at the Laboratory
door. He also tells Utterson that he has heard another man's voice as well
as someone's heart-wrenching cries at night in the Lab. Just then Jekyll
appears, disheveled, weary, but impassioned, and instructs Poole to go
to the apothecary to get some chemicals he needs. Utterson cannot believe
the changes in his friend. He implores Henry to step back from his quest
else he will be "HIS WORK AND NOTHING MORE"
Meanwhile Emma and her father, Danvers argue about the prudence of Emma's
marriage to a man who seems to be falling into an ever-deepening abyss.
Utterson exits as Poole enters Jekyll's office and announces that a young
woman has arrived with Jekyll's card. Jekyll realizes that it is Lucy and
tells Poole to send her in. She shows him bruises on her back and shoulders;
as Jekyll dresses her wounds, she mentions that Edward Hyde has caused
them. Lucy tells Jekyll that he is the first gentleman to treat her nicely
and how greatful she is for his "SYMPATHY,
TENDERNESS"
When Jekyll has finished dressing Lucy's wounds, she thanks him with a kiss. Lucy leaves Jekyll's house and dreams of how easy it would be to love "SOMEONE LIKE YOU."
Scene 9
Nellie leads the Bishop
of Basingstoke out of her shabby house near The Red Rat. After Nellie retires
into the house, the Bishop is met by Hyde, who taunts the Bishop, finally
calling him a hypocrite and smashing the Bishop's head with the knob of
his walking stick. Hyde gleefully continues beating the Bishop. Hyde revels
in the killing and again relishes the freedom and power of being "ALIVE
(Reprise)"
Act II
Scene 1
The townspeople of London
gossip about the hideous murder of the poor old bishop. ("MURDER,
MURDER"). As Glossop and Savage emerge
from the Bishop's funeral, Hyde approaches them. He breaks General Glossop's
neck while Savage manages to escape. Later, Lady Beaconsfield, Proops and
Savage are outside the very posh "Mayfair Club". Hyde taunts them from
the shadows. Lord Savage, not knowing who he is, threatens the intruder.
Hyde emerges from the darkness and stabs Proops. Hyde then grabs Lady Beaconsfield
and berates her vanity, and then strangles her. Lord Savage, once again
taking advantage of a close friend's demise, manages to escape. Next Sir
Danvers meets an agitated Lord Savage at the train station. Savage has
realized that he is next on the evil Hyde's list of enemies. He has decided
to leave post haste for Scotland. As soon as Danvers bids Savage adieu,
Hyde appears from behind a billow of steam...
Scene 2
Emma enters the dark room
that is Jekyll's Laboratory. She is reading Jekyll's journal when Jekyll
enters and is immediately wary of her presence. She implores him to remember
"ONCE
UPON A DREAM" when they were "lost in
love's embrace." Jekyll admits he loves her and begs her not to abandon
him. She goes and Jekyll makes an entry in his journal. He is losing control
of when he transforms and fears that he is risking death. Utterson enters
questioning the letter that Jekyll wrote him leaving Edward Hyde his sole
heir. Alone again, Jekyll wonders what "STREAK
OF MADNESS" is trying to overtake him.
Emma and Lucy sing of their feelings for Jekyll ("IN
HIS EYES").
Scene 3
Lucy is alone at "The Red
Rat". Out of the shadows steps Hyde. He tells her he will be going away
for awhile and threatens her should she not be waiting when she gets back.
Despite herself, Lucy is drawn to his voice. As he caresses her, she notes
the coldness of his touch and wonders at the "DANGEROUS
GAME" she is playing.
Scene 4
At the Laboratory late
at night, Hyde is slumped in an armchair. Utterson tentatively knocks and
then enters the unlocked door looking for Henry. Utterson demands to see
his friend. Hyde chuckles and then agrees. He drinks the potion and transforms
into Jekyll in front of Utterson's very eyes. He asks Utterson to take
money to Lucy and beg her to leave town. As he begins to mix a new formula
he suffers the "ANGST (2)"
of not knowing if he will lose his mind forever.
Scene 5
Utterson and Lucy are in
her room at "The Red Rat". Utterson delivers Jekyll's letter and the money
he has left for her. Utterson exits and Lucy dreams of "A
NEW LIFE". Hyde emerges from the shadows
and lights a dim lamp. He reads the letter Jekyll left her. After a moment,
he stabs her to death while singing about the sweetness to be found in
her face ("SYMPATHY, TENDERNESS" Reprise).
Scene 6
A storm brews outside of
Jekyll's devastated laboratory. Jekyll battles his evil alter ego in "THE
CONFRONTATION" where Hyde vows to live
inside him forever.
Scene 7
The company sings "FAÇADE
(Reprise)" as Utterson narrates. Jekyll
knew that the way back to sanity would be treacherous. "Yet back from the
dead he came, to the sound of wedding bells". Guests appear at the church
for the wedding of Henry Jekyll and Emma Carew. Sir Danvers leads his daughter
up the aisle where Jekyll awaits. The Minister begins the ceremony. Suddenly
Jekyll doubles over in pain as Hyde emerges and takes over. Stride, a guest
at the wedding, tries to overtake the maniacal groom but Hyde is too fast
for him, grabs him and snaps his neck. Hyde grabs Emma and drags her toward
the altar. Emma calls out to Henry and vows he will never hurt her because
he is inside the evil Hyde. After a long moment he releases her. Hyde begs
Utterson to kill him. Utterson holds a blade to Hyde/Jekyll's heart but
cannot harm his friend. Suddenly Hyde/Jekyll falls forward onto the sword.
Jekyll dies in the arms of Emma.