Mix the gothic horror of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr.Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with a healthy dose of farce and a touch of hilarity, and you get Chemical Imbalance: A Jekyll and Hyde Play, by Lauren Wilson—which is coming to the Studio Theatre in ̽’s Weston Center for the Performing Arts just in time for Halloween!
“This play is a lot of fun! It turns the terror of the original Jekyll and Hyde narrative into a comic farce in surprising and clever ways,” said Professor David Legore, chair of ̽’s Department of Dramatic Media. “It’s full of laughs while still addressing some of the themes of the original story. The company is having a blast in rehearsals, and we think the audience will as well.”
The talented ensemble cast includes a blend of familiar and new faces, including Elias Vasquez as Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, Terry Barnes as Xavier, Elise Davis as Euphronia Jekyll, Brittney Blehm as Ambrosia Jekyll, Ethan Soltero as Lady Throckmortonshire, Sabrina Kennedy as Calliope and Penelope Throckmortonshire, Zoe Lutjens as Ivy, and Hallie Strange as Plodgett.
“I think this play is really fun because the cast and I get to bring a lot of energy, and with the help of our great director Professor Legore, we get to polish everything up to make it an amazing production,” said sophomore Dramatic Media major Elias Vasquez, who plays the dual role of the talented physician Dr. Jekyll and his sinister alter ego Mr. Hyde. “The story is a classical farce that takes a lot to perfect, but I make sure to do my job being the lead and I know my incredible team does their job as well. This production couldn't be possible without all of the collaborative work, so I'm really excited to see what's in store for the future.”
The show runs weekends October 24 through November 1, with six performances to choose from: October 24 and 25 at 7:30 p.m.; October 26 at 2:30 p.m.; October 31 at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; and November 1 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased right here:
Chemical Imbalance is suitable for most ages.