Has anyone seen an amateur production of 'JEKYLL & HYDE'?

[aces25]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 9:56pm

Thoughts

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 9:59pm

My high school did it this year and it was one of the most amazing theater experiences I've ever had.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 10:20pm

Funny, I saw an ameteur prodoction last year and it was, without a doubt, the worst piece of "theater" I had ever seen. The leads not only couldn't sing, but forgot the tune so in a few places they actually just said the words to the song. I am SO glad a friend of mine worked backstage and got me a video the cast made of it. It's the funniest video I own.
-Matt

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 5/2/04 at 10:23pm

I'm sorry, how unfortunate!

[MusicalComedyMan]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 2:04am

i saw it on Bway and that was pretty amateurish!!!

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 2:09am

I may be doing tech for a high school show this summer at a community theatre. This is the same theatre that did Les Mis for its high school summer show and kicked major butt. I have high hopes for this production and I am fairly sure it'll be good. This is the same theatre where I am auditioning for Seussical.

Updated On: 5/4/04 at 02:09 AM

[DoubleDown11]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 1:37pm

My dad just got the part of Sir Danvers (I think that's his name) up in New Hampshire. It'll be intersting to see how it comes out.

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 3:01pm

I saw it on Broadway- does that count? LOL

[ckeaton]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 3:54pm

I'd like to DO a production of J&H... does that count?

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 5:11pm

I've seen several productions including the original on Bd'w( many times),the Bd'w tour, 3 regional professional productions and one high school production, only because of knowing people from the casts. I was inducted or... abducted into "jekkie-dom".

Funny though, while it was running for 4 years on Bd'w, it was a very sought after role by many actors to play the good and evil doctor, from John Stamos to Donny Osmmond (no giggles) and Paul Stanley. Eventually two Bd'w phantoms Brad Little and Kevin Gray got to do the "hair ballet" and were both very impressive.

It's a tough show to do well, even for the best actors and creative teams. There's way too much room for exploration with this puppy, in my opinion. And it deviated greatly from it's original intent, to me. While it's a kick for young people to mount, I think it's "A Dangerous Game" to play on a high school level.

Let's say, if you disliked it on Bd'w , chances are you'll not enjoy any other version. Personally, I enjoy watching how the "transformations" take place, whether they be good or bad.

J&H also launched some careers ( Linda Eder, Christine Noll and Bob Cuccioli) that are doing quite well today.

Sorry to get a bit windy, but Wildhorn always incites interesting conversations.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 5:53pm

The Broadway producton was a mess. Linda Eder may be a terrific singer, but she's no an actress. When her character was killed she got up and walked off stage in full view of the audience.

Also, I wonder if the creaive team ever bothered to read Robert Louis Stevenson's orignal novella? There is no profanity in it and the only female character is an insignificant maid who witnesses a crime from a chamber window. The musical is rife with females.

Updated On: 5/4/04 at 05:53 PM

[Broadwaylilhead]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 5:58pm

The ORIGINAL Alley Theatre production in Houston was awesome and incredibly intimate and gothic..that was before the absurd spectable that landed on tour and in NYC.

[redmustang]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 7:24pm

Here in Ohio, in Akron, we have a big dinner theatre that does musicals, and I saw Jekyll and Hyde 2 years ago. I had ordered the OBC CD through my CD club but had never opened it, so I went in blind. Thought it was terrific. Got home and played the CD to death. Anyway, in the production I saw, about 3/4 way through A New Life, Hyde steps out from behind a curtain and is seen by the audience, but not by the singer. The effect was chilling. You could hear the gasp ripple through the theatre. Waited to see this scene in the DVD, but Hyde doesn't appear till after the song. Really lost its impact.

[logan30]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 8:49pm

The David Hasselhoff production seemed very amateurish to me.

[MyNameInLights]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 9:09pm

Idiot. Hasselhoff, not you.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/3/04 at 10:00pm

Yes, from what I've been told by the cast and seen for myself (via some great video I was given), the Houston production was a better production by far as was the German production with the multi -talented Jonathan Freeman, though it is a bit more sexual and bloody.

I agree that there were some detrimental creative choices with the Bd'w show, as it departed from the novel pretty severely. Still there are several mountings taking place on various levels to this day.

In all of the Bd'w productions that I saw Lucy never walked off the stage after her death, but was carried off on a stretcher. I wouldn't argue what I've not seen. I'm not sure I understand the point about being female heavy, since there are only 3 main characters and the entire story encompasses the Jekyll/Hyde character. The "extra" females were weaved into the plot very weakly, I might add, to attempt to introduce a sense of charcter development for Lucy, and the life of a prositute. It was a creative choice that could have been narrowed down with one lovely solo song " Girls of the Night" which was sadly ommitted.

Regardless if people think Linda Eder can act, J&H was a springboard for her vocal career and didn't hurt Mr. Wildhorn either. Ms. Noll landed several admirable acting roles as well as a loaded concert schedule. "Cooch" has also had some impressive acting roles as well as director ventures due to his longevity with Jekyll & Hyde. Not that this talent would not have surfaced on it's own, however J&H clearly acted as a catapult for their careers.

Critics and fans may disagree about it's Bd'w success. It's certaintly not one of my all time favorites either. However Jekyll and Hyde has created a fairly long ledger for itself which is more than many shows can claim.

Updated On: 5/3/04 at 10:00 PM

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 8:53am

I agree with musicalcomedyman - it was amateurish on Broadway - poorly written, badly cast and not at all worth the price of admission.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 9:10am

I enjoyed the tours (equity, and *gasp* non-equity- in its own way). I never got to see it on Broadway.

The DVD with Hassel-sloth is pretty bad. The sound quality is awful. Maybe it's a good thing with the way that Davey-boy sings... But overall, I don't think that DVD does the legacy of the Broadway incarnation any justice.

I think the show in general is quite good. Too difficult for most amateur/young groups, but still a good piece of entertainment none the less.

[citylights]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 3:47pm

I saw a community theater production of this a few years ago and had to go back twice more. I hadn't ever heard any of the show's music except for "This is the Moment" so I didn't have any expectations...the woman playing Lucy had a wonderful, strong belting voice that I adored. I haven't seen it elsewhere but I'd actually really like to. I got such a kick out of the song "Bring On The Men" (it was used in the production instead of Good & Evil, which was in B'way?) that I searched multiple cast recordings for it and finally got one with it :)

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 4:27pm

As you can see, this one goes round and round depending on your opinion and that's ok. The only point I will respectfully argue is the "poorly cast" point. Of all the critic bashing that took place, rarely was the cast ever the brunt of the poor reviews. In all honesty, Cucciolo, Eder & Noll AND Robert Evan all shined in their prospective roles. Hate the show, scoff at the characters all you want...the talent was impressive.

The fact was that Robt. Cuccioli earned a Tony nomination for his portrayal as J/H. Rob Evan sang the hell out of those songs as did Noll and Eder. Their "In His Eyes"- duet remains a favorite of many who loathed J&H. The talent aspect of the show was rarely challanged by the critics who dissed the show.

Still, I understand why many had problems with the overall production, just not that cast, no way, there's too much talent among them. Again, just my opinion. An now I will let this go!

Cheers!
oh! BTW, there will be a "J&H in Concert" starring Robert Evan this June in S. Jersey. Many of the songs from the Warlow concept CD performed with a 30 piece orch. More casting details as I get them.

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 4:36pm

I couldn't bear to sit through the Broadway version of this show -- I thought it was the worst piece of crap I'd ever shelled out good money for.

And, at the risk of sounding condescending and haughty, I have to wonder what ever happened to quality? Or more specifically, whatever happened to theatre people that can discern a good show from a bad show, and NOT be influenced by vanilla built-on-three-chord concept albums that are put out before a show opens? Ye Gods...

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 4:37pm

PB - I gotta tell ya - I'm just not a fan of most of the cast. I never liked Robert's C's voice, and Linda Eder just cannot act her way out of a paper bag - no matter how good her voice is (and strong acting will always matter more to me than great vocals)..as for the others, well they were fine - I just happen to think that the book of the show (as well as the lyrics) is some of the worst writing ever.

[Matt_G]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 4:43pm

"...and not at all worth the price of admission."

There's not much on Broadway at all that can justify the price's the charge to attend.

-Matt

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 4:48pm

Redhot~ I can respect that! There are singing actors and acting singers. J&H was not the best of either worlds in many aspects. But I gotta tell ya, that duet was "killer great" live!. But what about SP? Sills, Mann , Andreas ... SINK ME! any thoughts on that Horn-Wild ? :)

Updated On: 5/4/04 at 04:48 PM

[Jaynrand]

Posted: 5/4/04 at 7:28pm

Saw a professional touring production of J/H, the DVD, and a local community theatre production.

My problem is THE SCORE. Whew....not every moment is worth a song, folks, and there were several times I cringed when the conductor picked up his baton.

How many times can she sing "...once upon a dream..."....JHC, Maria only sang "....the sound of music..." a couple of times and it was the freaking title song!

When I saw the tour the actress playing Lucy - Sharon Brown - got to stylin' and profilin' during "Someone Like You" and lost her place and orchestra couldn't get with her....finally the conductor just stopped until they could find a meeting place....abysmal.