Tom Rendulic stars as Sir Danvers Carew and E. Lee Nicol as John Utterson in The Pasadena Theatre Company’s fall production of “Jekyll and Hyde.”

By Hayley Gable

Just in time for the fall season, The Pasadena Theatre Company has returned with another quality, exciting production. This time, the staff and cast members are back with their version of Robert Louis Stevenson’s timeless classic "Jekyll and Hyde."

Months in the making, Director Christy Stouffer fell in love with the "Jekyll and Hyde" musical when she first heard the album in 1990.

"It has evolved into a dark and powerful gothic tale told in almost operatic fashion to one of the most beautiful scores written for the stage," she began. "As with Stevenson’s original, it is set in England at the end of the 19th century, in a time of Victorian mores and bitter class struggles. Yet, as the many adaptations of the original have shown, it is a timeless story of the battle that rages within the human soul, and the choices we have to make," continued Stouffer.

One particularly impressive component in this production was the music. Powerful voices intertwined with the mesmerizing orchestra performance allowed The Pasadena Theatre Company to truly make this production uniquely their own. Music Director Doug Dawson returned to manage "Jekyll and Hyde" musical operations after previously producing a total of nine shows and acting as a panel judge for "Arundel Idol" at the Anne Arundel County Fair. Dawson also regularly lends his voice in the Naval Academy Chorale.

The musical opens up with the exhilarating number "Good and Evil," performed by the Ladies of the Night – Brianna Everett, Heather Harris, Malarie Novotny, Mary Retort George and Angela Sullivan.

In the second scene, the audience is introduced to the vocal and acting talents of John Scheeler, who dominates the roles of both Jekyll and Hyde. His ability to vividly transform himself between good and evil is near flawless, as we see from his impressive and eerie metamorphosis from the collected and composed Dr. Henry Jekyll to the violent and monstrous Mr. Edward Hyde.

Jekyll’s associates, John Utterson and Sir Danvers Carew, are played by Pasadena Theatre Company newcomer E. Lee Nicol and veteran Tom Rendulic. Throughout the play, their allied configuration of Dr. Hyde’s character and background concisely prove to be both clear and entertaining.

Also of note is the fact that many in the "Jekkyl and Hyde" cast are new to The Pasadena Theatre Company, with this being their very first production as a group. E. Lee Nicol, Sandra Boldman, Darrell Conley, Dean Davis, Tanya Davis, Michele Guyton, Heather Harris, Barbara Hartzell, Elizabeth Kanner, Laura Kavinski, Holly Mooney, Malarie Novotny, Mary Retort George and Angela Sullivan are all rookies with The Pasadena Theatre Company; however, their unified performance gives the appearance they’ve been a team for much longer.

"I knew it would take an extraordinary cast and production team to bring this story to life and I have been blessed with both," praised a pleased Stouffer.