Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a story most are told at some point in their adolescence. Usually, that version of the tale is much tamer than that of the original story. The musical version, this one staged on Broadway in the year 2000, opted to tell the more adult version. This narrative is much darker and far more detailed than the stories many were told at bedtime. Jekyll & Hyde is still a musical though, so even with the choice to approach it in a more serious light, the tone is somewhat watered down with the addition of music.
This staging of Jekyll & Hyde was debuted at the Plymouth Theatre in New York City. The Broadway Television Network professionally filmed the production at the end of 2000 and debuted the recorded version a few months into 2001. The story is basically as everyone already knows it. Dr. Jekyll intends to study the duality of man in regards to ‘good and evil’. When the doctor uses his own concoction on himself in an effort to experiment with is compound, he becomes Mr. Hyde and discovers first-hand the presence of evil and the dangers he himself possesses within his very being.
This staging of Jekyll & Hyde was debuted at the Plymouth Theatre in New York City. The Broadway Television Network
The biggest surprise is the lead casting of David Hasselhoff. Oh, perhaps it wasn’t as much a shock to those who know of Hasselhoff’s early days on the stage, but for those that’ve come to know him from shows like Night Rider or Baywatch it was likely unexpected. As it so happens, Hasselhoff’s performance was just the factor at play that made Jekyll & Hyde a Broadway hit during its run in New York. From the moment he hits his first bar it’s obvious that he’s practiced and knows what he’s doing. He’s tasked with essentially playing two different characters, and he does enough on either end to showcase the key differences between them. Apart from his performance, the show is filled with supporting characters and a chorus who can all hit the necessary notes. The set design is stunning, resembling life like rooms and authentic decoration. The written music and composition for the show is a powerful foundation for the performers, and to say the least, is an interesting way to adapt the source material. The show itself is very complete and offers a unique take on the already famous story that nearly everyone has come to know.
There’s not much else to be concluded from Jekyll & Hyde except for that perhaps David Hasselhoff should do more work on stage. He is certainly not the only person that makes the show watchable, but his role is definitely the most important part. He’s made a living through television and even became famous in a time where being a TV actor was considered less than, but he clearly exhibits an astute comfortability when performing for a live audience. Granted, this was more than twenty years ago. Even still, this production can be found in full on YouTube for free.
