Colerain High School presents Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play - Dr. Jekyll in the lab conspiring with Xavier (Eder Sanchez) & Henry (Brandon Saylor, Jr.) to try and isolate and separate his evil side from his good side. Photo courtesy of Josh Lakeberg.
Review by Alexandra Hess, Campbell County High School Critic Team
When one well-intentioned experiment goes awry and murder is set on the loose, the normal reaction would be to scream, but Colerain High School Drama's production of Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play laughs in the face of fear.
Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's gothic horror novella, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Chemical Imbalance, by Lauren Wilson, humorizes the conflicting nature of a monstrously mad physician. In combining modern-day theatrical elements with the Italian commedia dell'arte style, Wilson blends contemporary comedy with two-dimensional stock characters to draw on humanity's attraction to the farcically horrendous.
Through their consistent collaboration, the students at Colerain High School skillfully executed the technically complex and predominantly paradoxical components of this script. The clean and energetic stage combat sequences elevated the various slapstick gags, while the entirety of the production team worked to ensure the safety and timing of the run.
A creepily comical pair: Rosamunda Dewthistle and Dr. Jekyll, played by Charlotte McVay and Brandon Saylor Jr., fully embraced the dramatic irony behind their on-stage relationship. McVay's interpretation as the unknowing love interest to Dr. Jekyll cleverly delivers the repeating bit of her oblivious admiration of the insane physician, while adeptly balancing her character's romantic motivations with the comical themes of the show. Ms. Dewthistle's theatrical opposite, Dr. Jekyll, and his chemically ignited alter ego, Mr. Hyde, were both ambidextrously portrayed by Brandon Saylor Jr. Saylor's smooth and calculated physical articulation masterfully satirized his transformation from curious chemist to malicious madman. His commanding stage presence and confident embodiment created a uniquely riveting performance.
Another sinister set of individuals: Penelope and Calliope, a dual personality set of identical twins, represent the human dilemma behind Dr. Jekyll's psychotic experiments. Lily Flores, who played these dissimilar sisters, masterfully anchored herself within the space, her body, and her voice to portray the twins with an equal level of skill and care. Her polarizing vocalizations and accompanying physicalities entrancingly distinguished her already breathtaking character work. Chanel Sanchez as Lady Throckmortonshire, created a stunning contrast to her fictional daughters. Chanel's expert dynamic manipulation and use of silence in pacing allowed her to control her impeccable comedic timing. Her magnetic performance brought a lively complement to all her scenes, demonstrating her keen sense for humor within realism, and realism within the absurd.
The meticulous design of this show would not have been possible without Colerain High School's dedicated technicians. The set crew (Samantha Cooper, Lillian Hodge, Cayden Wopperer, and crew) designed a stunning three-dimensional set to imitate a Victorian Era home. With multiple layers of space, including a backdrop, a window, a drawing room, and two side compartments leading to implied spaces, the set crew created a truly engaging atmosphere, which sought to extend the Jekyll household beyond the confines of the proscenium. Needless to say, the basis for any production is the stage management team. Led by Cadence Lynn, the stage management for Chemical Imbalance was responsible for the organization and execution of the show in its entirety. Through communication in cues, collaboration with both cast and crew, and undeniable leadership skills, they were able to direct the show towards a responsible and safe environment for all participants.
Overall, Colerain High School Drama's production of Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play was an explosion of chilling comedy and eerie entertainment.
Colerain High School presents Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play - Calliope (Lily Fores) & Henry (Brandon Saylor, Jr.) Feeding Pigeons in the park. Photo courtesy of Josh Lakeberg.
Review by Zychik Rozhkov, Campbell County High School Critic Team
A dark force descended upon the Colerain High School auditorium as their performance of Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play revealed that it doesn't matter whether you're good or evil; you can run, but you can't "Hyde."
Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play is a dark comedy written by Lauren Wilson. Based on the well-known classic horror novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, the play follows Dr. Henry Jekyll as he searches for a way to fully separate man's good nature from his evil urges, all while having to deal with his family, friends, and even a potential lover's shenanigans. The chaos and hilarity only increase once he finally discovers the formula for dividing the human psyche, revealing just how evil humans can be. By mixing together grim source material and farcical writing, this play puts you on the edge of your seat and keeps you there.
Colerain High School's cast and crew handled this grim romp of a show with nothing short of professionalism, showcased by realistic stage combat, perfect comedic timing, and a simply delicious amount of stage chemistry that had the audience laughing all the way to the bitter end.
Taking on the two-faced doctor himself, Brandon Saylor Jr. played Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with absolute expertise. The separation of the two characters was more than evident through a stark difference not just physically, but also vocally as Saylor swapped between the personas. He also skillfully navigated both characters' emotional states, adding tinges of remorse and humanity when playing Dr. Jekyll while simultaneously not showing any compassion when in the headspace of Mr. Hyde. This nuance demonstrated Saylor's thorough comprehension of these complex characters and took his performance above and beyond.
Eder Sanchez played Xavier Utterson, Henry Jekyll's cousin who always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sanchez greatly enhanced the show by having extremely precise comedic timing and being a very likable sidekick to the estranged Dr. Jekyll. Lily Flores enhanced the production as well through her performance as Calliope and Penelope, a pair of twins who just so happened to be just as respectively good and evil as Jekyll and Hyde themselves. Her ability to be a sweet little girl one moment and a demon the next reinforced the theme of the show and gave the audience some laughs along the way.
The technical aspects of this production added lots of little details that rounded out the atmosphere, fully immersing the audience in the action. Most noteworthy was the set, built by Olivia Cahill & crew, which featured a functioning window, a clock with a secret door, and a rotating flat that turned into Dr. Jekyll's laboratory. Everything down to the decor on the walls was period-appropriate, and the same went for the costumes and props, led by Francis Camarca and Paris Love Adams respectively. From tailcoats to birds with one leg, the crew of Colerain High School hit every detail.
Colerain High School's Chemical Imbalance was an unfortunate gambol of a show, proving that we can still laugh at the dark side of human nature even as we try to eradicate it.
Colerain High School presents Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play- The poor Constable (Xavier Davis) is devastated by the loss of his beloved Lieutenant. Photo courtesy of Josh Lakeberg.
Review by Ashlyn Fuhrmann, William Henry Harrison High School Critic Team
While Dr. Jekyll's potion may have gone terribly wrong, Colerain High School's production of Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play was a remarkable elixir of laughs, stage fights, and… pigeons?
Inspired by the 1866 horror novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play tells the iconic story of Dr. Jekyll as he creates his split personality, unveiling the evil alter ego Mr. Hyde. This Commedia dell'Arte retelling by Lauren Wilson puts a new spin on this well-known tale, bringing dark humor and physical comedy to the forefront of each scene.
Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play is no easy show to take on, given its wide range of accents, on-stage chemistry, and complex lighting designs. However, Colerain High School tackled it with seeming ease, bringing hilarity and energy that left the audience roaring with laughter.
Brandon Saylor Jr. brilliantly brought to life both the bright, quick-on-his-feet Dr. Jekyll and the eerie, erratic Mr. Hyde. From his vaudeville-style running to his improvisational lines as he crossed the stage, Saylor proved to be a gifted actor through his physicality and excellent comedic timing. His ability to contort and switch between personas was superb. Seeking Jekyll's proposal was Miss Rosamunda Dewthistle, played by Charlotte McVay. McVay graciously portrayed the oblivious and love-stricken character, charming each scene she was in while simultaneously remaining unaware of the evil Mr. Hyde.
Lily Flores' performance as twins Calliope and Penelope was magnificent. Her ability to play the complex duality of the good-natured Calliope and the evil Penelope was ingenious, going as far as having an on- and off-stage fight with herself while maintaining the unique characterizations of each twin. The eccentric Lady Throckmortonshire, played by Chanel Sanchez, brought a new level of comedy to this already hilarious production. Sanchez had an outstanding stage presence, maintaining the posh aristocrat while also keeping her difficult twin daughters in line.
Hank Jablonski and Sophia Stinebuck's lighting helped to amplify the mysterious subtext of the production, using strobes to add dramatic flair to Jekyll's transformation and purple lighting to signify the characters inside his mind. Samantha Cooper, Lillian Hodge, Cayden Wopperer, and the crew's set design was stunning, utilizing a unit set with a rotating wall and opening window. The set included intricate designs, with an opening grandfather clock and Victorian-style decorations.
This show is a challenge with its dark themes and advanced physical elements, but Colerain High School brought a breath of life to this classic story, resulting in a hysterical and dynamic performance.
Colerain High School presents Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play - Rosamunda (Charlotte McVay), Xavier (Eder Sanchez) and Ambrosia (Adriana Mayfield) look on in horror at the calm facade of Dr. Jekyll (Brandon Saylor, Jr.). Photo courtesy of Josh Lakeberg.
Excerpts From Other Top Reviews
"Among the rest of the cast, Lily Flores stood out as an impressive actor. Flores played the twins Calliope (the “good one”) and Penelope (the “bad one”). She did an excellent job of making sure the audience understood which one she was. Her acting as Penelope made the audience burst out in laughter as she chased Dr. Jekyll with a fire poker."
-Aiden Guigundo, Clark Montessori High School Critic Team
"The props department is one that typically flies under the radar, but in Chemical Imbalance, they tied the show together. Leyanna Rosser and her fellow props crewmates made many bold choices that gave the actors a lot to work with. Specifically, the end of the first act included a stuffed pigeon falling from above the stage, which Mr. Hyde then ripped to feathery shreds after it hit the ground."
-Parker Roland, Larry A. Ryle High School Critic Team
"As the namesake of the play, it is vital to its success that the actor playing Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde does the roles justice, and Brandon Saylor Jr. certainly delivered. His emphatic physical expressions and actions brought out the slapstick essence of his character. Additionally, Saylor Jr. made great use of various techniques to set his roles apart, as he changed his very disposition when switching between them. His mastery of Jekyll's refined Victorian accent contrasted brilliantly with Hyde's distinct lisp, further emphasizing their duality."
-Davis Wickham, Mariemont High School Critic Team
"The polished lighting by Hank Jablonski <cq> and Sophia Stinebuck <cq> found inventive ways to focus the audience on specific cast members and even set the mood for a scene. From transformations to evil and even thoughts in a character's mind, the lighting enhanced the main focus of each scene. The sets were also crafted precisely and had surprising elements, including a grandfather clock that could be walked through and a revolving wall to transport the audience to the laboratory."
-Betty Good, Mariemont High School Critic Team
"Colerain High School's production was full of talented actors carrying out complicated physical comedy, and an excellent crew who brought the show together with elements that fit both the tone and time period of the play. It was an exciting and fast-paced romp that never dragged on or slowed down, and in fact, the audience left feeling like scarcely any time had passed."
Ravyn Jones, William Mason High School Critic Team
"The slapstick comedy of the show could not have been done without the inventive set designed by Samantha Cooper, Lillian Hodge, Cayden Wopperer, and others. The opening windows allowed for many of the most ludicrous moments to take place, from characters being thrown out of them to fights being seen through them. Beyond that, the props, brought forth by Paris Love Adams, Jocelyn Artley, Rylee Rhoades, and Leyanna Rosser, further aided the foolishness of the show. Within one scene, Jekyll is seen pulling prop after prop out from behind a couch as a means to kill two servants. From knives to TNT, the props become more and more ridiculous, causing the audience to roar with laughter."
-Delaney Cowles, William Mason High School Critic Team
"Overall, Colerain High School's performance of Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play was a skillful show of dedication and passion for the arts. The actors and crew were all very clearly in love with their work, and it could really be felt throughout the theater. The applause that was given at the end was loud and joyous, a nice wrap to a wonderful performance."
-Percy Holzclaw, Clark Montessori High School Critic Team
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