The Man Inside - Review by Sean Brooks | British Youth Music Theatre

The Man Inside - Review by Sean Brooks

* (1 star)

Landor Theatre - Thursday 13 March, 2014

There have been countless adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 chiller “The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde”, and perhaps most famously for the stage is Frank Wildhorn’s 1997 Broadway show Jekyll & Hyde (check out the song ‘This is the Moment’).

The Man Inside is a new chamber musical from Tony Rees and Gary Young with additional material from the show’s star Dave Willetts. This classic story touches on issues of morality as we see the ‘good’ Dr Jekyll battle with his alter-ego, the ‘bad’ Mister Hyde. Unlike the novel, this version doesn’t include the main character Gabriel John Utterson and insteads tells the story from the perspective of Dr Jekyll.

This small production needs a lot of work if it ever wants a life outside of the Landor Theatre (an intimate pub theatre in Clapham). Rees’ highly-repetitive score lacks the drama and excitement needed to keep audiences’ attention. It’s a shame because the source material is so fascinating. Important elements are glossed over or unexplored and the irritatingly-weak script is riddled with clichés - particularly the ending, which is a failed attempt to shock.

Not even West End stalwart Willetts can save this production, and his performance is largely unimpressive - merely utilising a rough vibrato when playing Hyde. There’s a peculiar stage dynamic between the three performers who just don’t work well together: it all feels awkward and forced.

The strange lighting choices coupled with the over-excessive smoke machine make the production feel like an episode of Stars in Their Eyes rather than the dark exploration of human nature that it should be.

Ultimately, for me, The Man Inside is one big disappointment that appears to be beyond any form of redemption.

The Man Inside is playing at the Landor Theatre until 29 March.

The Man Inside