What I liked
The simplicity of the set worked well to enhance the spotlight on these two brilliant performances. Though the pieces were small, each side to them contained an element that gave life to a very specific area of this London town. One moment a set piece opens up to be a bookshelf. The next it is turned around and becomes a beautiful flower backdrop. The construction of the set was well thought out and brilliantly constructed.
The subtle changes in costumes did much the same thing. Each of Stromberg’s characters could be identified by a single piece of attire. With her brilliant method of performance, it became almost like magic identifying each piece with a certain voice, accent, and posture.
The lighting accented the performances wonderfully. The pink highlight and romantic soundtrack for the arrival of Sarah was always a source of laughter to the audience. The harsh green backdrop against the dark transformation of Jekyll into Hyde was almost mosaic. A brilliant still lingers in my mind of the blackened silhouette of a struggling Dr. Jekyll splashed against a ghastly green that had me feeling as if I myself was caught up in some sort of danger.
What I didn't like
For what it was, I can find no wrong. I witnessed a near flawless performance and everything about this show worked in its favor. To change any of the elements would make it into something that it clearly was not. Burt Grinstead and Anna Stromberg clearly took the time to make this into something they were proud of. And I am happy to call this unique work a masterpiece.
My overall impression
This show is fantastic! Burt Grinstead’s submersion into the role of Dr. Jekyll is one of such sincerity and grace that it becomes a wonder that I’m not looking at the man himself. His unyielding dedication to the character and his plight to twist the boundaries of good & evil give one of the most empathetic performances I have seen in years. As if that wasn’t enough, Grinstead’s near inhuman transformation into the character of Mr. Hyde left no moment of confusion or pause for analysis. It was seamless and powerfully engaging, as everything we had clung to about Jekyll fell away to this beast of a man. The voice. The mannerisms. The overall energy and presence. All flipped upside down with seemingly no more effort than tying a shoe.
Anna Stromberg blew me away as literally every single character opposite Dr. Jekyll. Her ability to transform at lightning speed between the most off kilter characters of this play had me questioning my sanity. As if I were under some sort of spell, illusioned into believing everyone around me shared the same face. From tone to accent, Anna masterfully filled in the world around the title character, never once having us doubt who she was at any particular moment. The comedic timing between these two and the complimentary performances enhanced the experience of this play to a level that had my heart pounding and my soul fully engaged from beginning to end.
Theater at its most brilliant. Acting at its finest.
