Kokandy Productions’ expertly sung JEKYLL & HYDE arrives just in time for spooky season — or cold winter nights. This is exactly how I like my Halloween-adjacent fare: Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn’s eerie and contemplative musical has a sense of creepiness, but there’s no blood or gore. Even the body horror here is imagined — yes, David Moreland transforms from the kind Dr. Henry Jekyll to his evil inner counterpart Mr. Edward Hyde, but his physical appearance remains unchanged. That’s precisely the question the musical explores though: If you suppress your true self and inner darkness for too long, what untold horrors unfold when it finally comes out?
While the production elements aren’t the most elaborate, Kokandy Artistic Director Derek Van Barham once again proves he’s a pro at doing more with less when it comes to his musical stagings. Sotirios Livaditis’s set is relatively sparse, evoking a Victorian operating theater, and few props are used, and Rachel Sypniewski’s costume designs have a timeless Gothic aesthetic.
This production goes full-throttle when it comes to the music. Kokandy employs a full 15-piece orchestra. And this is legitimately some of the most thrilling vocals I’ve heard in awhile. The ensemble harmonies are killer, especially on group numbers like “Facade.” Wildhorn’s score has a classic 90s big Broadway sound, and Bricusse’s lyrics are crisp. The show is mostly sung through, which means it’s a delectable exercise in building character through song.
The lead role is one of the immense challenges in musical theater: The principal actor must transition seamlessly between Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. While it’s a bizarre idiosyncrasy of the script that somehow no one recognizes Dr. Jekyll once he’s transformed into Mr. Hyde — despite the fact he looks exactly the same — Moreland rises to the challenge with aplomb. He nails the distinct shift between his character’s warring personalities. This is most clear in “Confrontation,” a duet Moreland has … with himself. Vocally and physically, Moreland has developed clear markers for both his roles. And he has the kind of big and powerful musical theater voice I adore, which he puts to good use.
Ava Lane Stovall is spectacularly captivating as Lucy Harris, the main attraction at the local seedy underground bar — dubbed the Red Rat — and the subject of Hyde’s sinister affections. Stovall has a hugely powerful belt and an impressively wide vocal range. She also runs the emotional gambit from the energetic and seductive “Bring On The Men” to the vulnerable and introspective “Someone Like You,” in which Lucy longs for the embrace of a good man like Dr. Jekyll. Stovall’s vocals are jaw dropping.
Emily McCormick is sweet and sings with a clear soprano as Emma Carew, Dr. Jekyll’s fiancé and the daughter of Sir Danvers Carew (Nathan Calaranan), who sits literally on the fence among the board of judges who deny Dr. Jekyll the right to experiment with his new formula meant to separate good from evil.
Adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s story, JEKYLL & HYDE reflects on the duality of human nature — even if some of the play’s overall morals are rather black and white. I think Van Barham’s direction further plays on the idea of identity and social construction. The ensemble number “Facade” and its reprise become hallmarks. Some of the roles are gender bent. Ensemble member Quinn Simmons, in particular, deftly handles roles across genders, as Lucy’s coworker at the club and as Dr. Jekyll’s no-nonsense assistant Paul. Through this lens, this production uses the Jekyll/Hyde duality not just as a meditation on good and evil but rather on the importance of reflecting one’s true self — and the perils of keeping hidden for too long. It’s a nice, timely interpretation.
I was thrilled to add JEKYLL & HYDE to my musical bingo card with this production. It’s an eerie and entertaining treat, and a lively and engaging staging of a musical that hasn’t been in Chicago in over 15 years. The vocals performed on this big, difficult Broadway score are astounding through and through. The vocal performances might just haunt as much as Dr. Jekyll feels haunted by the demons of his inner Mr. Hyde.
Photo Credit: Evan Hanover
FAQs
Where can you see Kokandy Productions’ JEKYLL & HYDE musical in Chicago? JEKYLL & HYDE plays the Chopin Theatre, 1543 West Division.
When can you see Kokandy Productions’ JEKYLL & HYDE Chicago? JEKYLL & HYDE runs through January 10, 2026.
Where can you buy tickets? Visit bit.ly/JekyllChicago or kokandyproductions.com.
How much are tickets for Kokandy Productions’ JEKYLL & HYDE? Tickets are $60 for general admission, $60 for reserved seating, and $35 for students/seniors. A limited number of $15 tickets are available to artists at each performance with code ARTIST.
Rachel Weinberg Reviews 