Center Stage
Trojan doesn't 'Hyde'
Musical hits L.A. with a stellar performance by an acclaimed cast
By APARNA SINGH
Staff Writer

The musical production "Jekyll and Hyde" is absolutely superb in every way. The stage, lighting and set design, sound, score, music, dan-cing, props, costumes, makeup, singing, choreography, timing and dialogue de-livery are amazing. But most of all, the principle player of the show, Chuck Wagner, a Trojan himself, is simply wonderful.
For this year's tour, Wagner rejoins the cast of "Jekyll and Hyde" in the title role he originated in 1990. He is definitely a commanding presence on the stage with his impressive stature, height and body movements - an asset that he attributes to the acting professors at USC. In addition, his voice is absolutely phenomenal. On every song he sang- alone or with partners - his voice boomed, filling the Pantages Theatre.
The best scene of the entire musical was the confrontation of Dr. Jekyll with his evil counterpart Edward Hyde. Wagner portrayed the two characters by leaving half of his long hair tied back when playing the good doctor Jekyll and hanging the other half in a loose and wild manner to represent the evil Mr. Hyde. By simply switching profiles, he brings the audience to believe that there are actually two different people inside that one body. Within a matter of seconds, Wagner can shift back and forth in both character and voice. It was indeed breathtaking to witness an actor put his entire being into two fictitious characters at one time.
The rest of the cast was also amazing. Sharon Brown gave a particularly great performance as the seductive Lucy. The one aspect of this multi-talented actress that was just amazing was her ability to sing like none other. The words that she sang came from deep within her - so deep that it seemed as though she was undressing her entire soul to the audience, as if it was the last time she would ever sing. This intensity is a sure sign of an individual who is ready to spill sweat and blood in order to be true to her art.
"Jekyll and Hyde" is definitely worth seeing. Unlike other musicals that lose the plot when it's time to break into song, "Jekyll and Hyde" is easy to understand. Along with being able to follow the story, it is also easy to relate to the central idea of the story.
Dr. Jekyll desperately wanted to create a formula that would rid the world of all evil, but it backfired on him, and instead he created his own evil counterpart, Mr. Hyde. Hyde ruined Jekyll's life. He prevented Jekyll's marriage and drove away his one and only true love. He lost Jekyll's friends and killed the people that Jekyll cared about.
Modern society may think the play is about the psychosis of multiple personality disorder, technology gone wrong, or the consequences of messing with nature. But after watching this production, it is realized that in the end, man's own worst enemy is himself. Only one word can sum up the ability of "Jekyll and Hyde" and its cast to evoke just that feeling: BRAVO!


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