RICHARD PARR Watlington Village Hall

RICHARD PARR

Watlington Village Hall

This enterprising and talented group has done it again with a first-class West Norfolk debut production of this Bricusse and Wildhorn musical.

Never afraid to treat audiences to something different, the talented production team and cast have taken a gamble with a not-so-familiar show but have pulled it off superbly well.

Tom Clarke, well-known to local theatre audiences, carries off the demanding role of Dr Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde to masterful effect, wringing out every ounce of sympathy from the audience as he personally struggles to separate the two natures of man, good and evil. He plays opposite veteran actor, David Lilley, whose stage experience comes across in the role of John Utterson.

Caught in the cross-fire of Jekyll's internal struggle are his fiancée, Emma, a powerful performance by Megan Abbott with the equally convincing Julie Long in the role of prostitute, Lucy Harris.

The detail in this show is fantastic with wonderful 19th century costumes, and lighting which carry all the hall-marks of Kate Carpenter's wealth of theatrical experience in the producer's role. She, together with director Terry Grazier, create a visually striking moving tableau of Victorian London.

In places the drama is so emotionally charged, that, particularly in the second half, you can hear a pin drop in the auditorium as attention is gripped by what is happening on stage as it races along to its dramatic and tragic finale.

The show continues tonight and tomorrow. Catch it if you can, you won't be disappointed.