A solemn parade of people slowly file into the theatre as a spotlight illuminates the stage to reveal a solitary red door.  The people begin to speak one by one, despairing and regretful, their voices growing steadily until the room is filled with chaotic noise only to be broken by a bone-chilling scream.

“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is based on the novel “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson.  The play tells the tale of Dr. Henry Jekyll, who while seeking a way to separate both the good and the evil in men, created a potion that completely split the two personalities thus creating the persona Mr. Edward Hyde. He begins experimenting with this separation of his personality, indulging in his more shameful vices through Mr. Hyde. Over time however, Dr. Jekyll begins to lose control over the transformations, becoming Mr. Hyde during his regular life and  having no recollection when he eventually changes back.  In a struggle to maintain control, Dr. Jekyll desperately searches for ways to destroy the increasingly powerful persona of Mr. Hyde ultimately destroying himself in the process.

Gino Cardoni gave an unforgettable performance as the Dr. Henry Jekyll.  He impressively depicted Jekyll’s descent from an intelligent, well-respected scientist into his unbalanced and malevolent alter ego, Mr. Hyde.

The idea of splitting the character of Mr. Hyde into four parts created a fascinating illusion.    The Hyde ensemble was brilliantly depicted by Brent Silvestri, Emma Felter, Evan Eichner, and Kala Baker.  Individually, they each represented a different aspect of Mr. Hyde, his jealousy, hatred, violence, and lust. Through predatory and feral physicality, they combined seamlessly to create a whole character whose stage presence was powerful and terrifying.

While the set was minimalist, consisting only of a single red door, it allowed for an intriguing dynamic between the set and the characters.  The door not only served as a physical entrance, but also as an entrance into Dr. Jekyll’s mind.  This inventive design created a distinction between the transformations of Jekyll and Hyde, showing who was in the real world and who was trapped behind the door of their mind.

Patapsco High School and Center For the Arts production of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” thoroughly captured the complicated and and sometimes horrific nature of the duality of man.

by Madeline McArdle of Annapolis