Jekyll and Hyde, Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 May, Poltimore House, Nr Exeter
By Jenna Richards
Every aspect of this play was phenomenal, but unusually the star of the show was the set!
Jekyll and Hyde, from Four of Swords Theatre, was set in the decrepit and wonderfully eerie surroundings of Politmore House, near Exeter. The house, which is currently being restored to its former glory, was the perfect location for this classic gothic tale.
A stroke of genius saw the audience tour the house following the action as it moved through the main reception hall, the library, the courtyard and the old Tudor kitchen. Each location became perfectly entwined with the unfolding story as the brilliant cast made full use of the house and its crumbling quirkiness.
Each run down room hinted at the splendour of what once was and created the perfect backdrop for this dark tale that traditionally challenged the reader to make the connection between two personalities.
The small cast were fabulous; each character was rounded and acted to perfection. The play was absorbing, entertaining and a little bit creepy. I saw the show during the day; I can only imagine how the night would have added that extra air of spookiness to proceedings.
For me the stand out performance came from Philip Kingslan John as Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, he was charming as Dr Jekyll and scary as Mr Hyde. He fully embraced each character and almost had the audience backing away with terror each time he emerged, spitting and hissing, as the twisted, fiendish Mr Hyde.
The proximity to the action made you feel less of a spectator and more a participant in the story. The fact I could reach out and touch the evil creature of Mr Hyde made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
The show made very clever use of projections on the vast white walls of the 16th century house. Details impossible to convey on stage were portrayed in wonderful black and white images, sometimes with subtitles, guiding you through the story.
This was the best play I have seen in years. Every aspect came together perfectly to make this a show that will not be forgotten. If you get the chance make sure you see it.
A special thank you must go to Poltimore House for allowing this wonderful building to be used as a backdrop. The house is currently undergoing restoration and it will be a delight to see the mansion restored to its former glory.