Review of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse (Meredith, NH)

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Set Design by Andrew Stuart Photo Courtesy Winnipesaukee Playhouse

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a fascinating play by David Edgar adapted from the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Set in Victorian London this play is filled with beautiful poetic language and is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally poignant.

Walking into the intimate theatre for the opening night performance of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde my eyes were immediately drawn to the substantially dark set. Designed by Andrew Stuart, the set was perfectly complimented by the lighting, designed by Graham Edmondon. The eeriness established by the set and the lights was exemplified even more through sound and musical additions. Neil Pankhurst expertly designed the sound in a way that kept the audience engaged and often times on the edge of their seats. It is clear that Nick Saldivar, who magnificently directed the show, worked very hard with everyone involved to ensure all elements of the show blended together seamlessly to create a beautiful and hauntingly intriguing production.

Nicholas Wilder (Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) Photo Courtesy Winnipesaukee Playhouse

Nicholas Wilder brilliantly portrayed Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. His characterizations were fantastically unique while also allowing a few similarities. His first transformation startled the audience, many of whom jumped in their seats. His Dr. Jekyll was polished and dignified while his Mr. Hyde was physically and vocally menacing.

Helen McMillan, as Annie Loder, and Elizabeth Swan, as Katherine Urquart, were wonderful to watch. These two women heightened the emotional aspects of the show and allowed the audience the opportunity to see the man behind Dr. Jekyll - the scientist and before the madness of Mr. Hyde took over. Their kindness towards him near the end of the play opened a door for the audience to feel sympathy towards this dark and violent character.  

The cast also includes Winnipesaukee Playhouse veterans Richard Brundage (Gabriel John Utterson) and A.J. Ditty (Richard Enfield/Parson), Jason Plourde (Poole), Ray Dudley (Dr. Lanyon/Sir Danvers Carew), Sophie Pankhurst (Lucy Urquart/Matchgirl), and Tyler Browne (Charles Urquart).

This production is thoroughly captivating from start to finish; and for anyone who is familiar with the classic story it is not to be missed. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde plays at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse until September 5^th. For additional information and tickets to visit www.winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org

Review of Avenue Q at Seacoast Repertory Theatre (Portsmouth, NH)

Photo Credit: Seacoast Repertory Theatre

From Directors Brandon James and Ben Hart comes the fun and amusing musical comedy Avenue Q playing at Seacoast Repertory Theatre. With over fifty handmade puppets, a lively band and creatively designed set this unique show, with adult themes, keeps the audience chuckling from start to finish.   

The experience of live theatre is often exciting because you never know what might happen. In this production, as is the case with most productions, the first few performances have some hiccups until the show finds its rhythm. But it is certainly worth taking in as there are many highlights within this production to enjoy.

The first of which is the fantastic band led by Music Director Andrew Barret Cox. It was wonderful having a live band that featured not only a piano, but also drums and both electric and bass guitars among other instruments. They were high energy and kept the tempo of the show moving right along. As with most musicals, the show is driven by the music being played by the band and sung by the performers. The cast of fifteen delivered vocally strong performances throughout the production. I must applaud this production on having such wonderfully talented artists sharing their gifts with the audience; be it their voice or other instrument.

The second highlight is one I was not expecting to see: tap dancing. Shaina Schwartz (Gary Coleman) performed a stellar tap solo during the first act. Her sounds and steps were a fantastic addition to the show. I am thrilled to see, as noted in the program, that she is not only sharing her incredible tapping talent with many audiences during the run of Avenue Q, but also young people throughout the Greater Boston and New Hampshire areas. With entertainers and educators like Shaina Schwartz, the art of tap dancing is certainly making its come back.

I would also like to commend the entire cast on their work in the complex art form of Puppetry. It is certainly something that needs many hours of training and practice and it is clear this group worked very hard to bring their puppet characters to life. Ben Hart and Noah Lefebvre did a great job working as one to bring to life Nicky, one of the puppet characters. Additionally, many performers brought to life more than one puppet character and overall I think it was a job well done.

Interestingly, the creatively designed set of the rundown city street, Avenue Q, was made by recycled, tossed away and/or donated items. Like the saying goes “one person’s trash is another person’s treasure” and that statement is certainly true for this cool and colorful set.

This musical, though many characters are puppets, is not appropriate for children and is geared more towards an adult audience. Avenue Q plays at Seacoast Repertory Theatre Thursdays- Sundays until September 13th. For more information and tickets visit www.seacoastrep.org

Review of Accidental Death of an Anarchist at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse (Meredith, NH)

Accidental Death of an Anarchist is a full force farce taking place in Milan, Italy and based on the real-life story of the suspicious death of Giuseppe Pinelli, a railway employee and recognized anarchist. Written by Dario Fo in 1970, only one year after Pinelli’s death, the play centralizes around themes such as governmental power, corruption and cover-ups. This play exposes hypocrisy not only within the play’s world, but in the real life world around its audience members.

The moment the audience walked into the theatre the detailed and intimate set drew them into the world they were about to see. Ingeniously designed by Dan Daly, the set effectively portrayed a simple office at police headquarters in Milan, Italy circa 1970. At the center of the stage were two French doors which opened to a small terrace to show a blue sky and leafless tree. Perfectly placed, the doors too, are characters within the play; with many parts of the story focused around them. During the prologue before the play began, the audience was slowly introduced to its characters and their morning routines as they silently entered the office and begrudgingly began their tasks. Though there were no lines and the play hadn’t officially started, the audience lowered their voices except for moments of chuckling when they made comments to those around them regarding the action on the stage.

Fantastically directed by Matt Cahoon, the cast is comprised of six wonderfully talented actors, Richard Brundage (Inspector Bertozzo), A.J. Ditty (Maniac), John-Michael Breen (Constable), Nicholas Wilder (Sports Jacket), Jason Plourde (Superintendent), and Rebecca Tucker (Journalist). All six brought quirkiness and vigor to their diverse characters. While all had their strengths and made the show an overall success, there was one who stood out a little more from the very beginning. A. J. Ditty brilliantly portrayed his hysterical Maniac character. A master deceiver, the Maniac, constantly had one, if not more, of the other characters wrapped up in one of his schemes and either hanging on his every word or wanting to hang him with his every word. His intelligent and creative portrayal of this complex character is not to be missed.

This thoughtful play was not only full of slap-stick comedy, but it also included modern day references which effectively kept the audience engaged and laughing throughout the play. Best appreciated by a mature audience, Accidental Death of an Anarchist plays at the Winnipesaukee Playhouse until August 22^nd. For additional information and tickets to Accidental Death of an Anarchist visit winnipesaukeeplayhouse.org