Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at Arlington Arts

A man, a stage, a lectern, is what awaited us. This week I had the pleasure to see the amazing one-man performance by Brother Wolf of the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at Arlington Arts, near Newbury. I had some idea of the story, but I did not expect this presentation of the story. It begins in the form of a presentation, just Dr Jekyll and a lectern, acting out a speech to an audience of an institution.

However before very long the actor James Hyland begins to introduce tics, movements of pain, which we soon discover come from the duality of Jekyll and Hyde. During the course of the performance the lectern is re-purposed to represent other objects, the acting becomes more and more physical, and we the audience witness the duality in its full macabre form.

The ability of James Hyland to hold full attention of the audience in his grip is truly impressive. He is completely believable in the roles on display, at one point acting four characters. The intensity of the acting climbs to a crescendo of unsettling, scary, drama.

This was a small intimate audience, being very close to the stage only increased the power of his performance, to the point, at the end, I truly believed I was in the presence of a completely unpredictable madman.

If you have the chance to see it near you, please do. It will not disappoint.