I know the story of Jekyll and Hyde like how I know who's the current President of our country.  I know the story as a common knowledge through encyclopedias I've read (yes that time Wikipedia does not exist yet).  I admit it that I never had the chance to experience this masterpiece by Robert Stevenson.  Maybe I'm just one of those who are unlucky to be on a School who doesn't teach English Literature that is why I'm not introduced to these characters which are indeed very famous specially to those who likes Victorian novels.

My first encounter with the piece is in college, on a Literature class.  I also got interested with it after seeing the movie adaptation of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen where Dr. Jekyll's condition is exaggerated showing him transforming to a hulk like creature when switching to Mr. Hyde.  But during those time I'm already preoccupied. Sherlock Holmes won my attention and since then I never looked back.  Not until before the end of 2011 when Repertory Philippines announces their 2012 offerings and one of them sounds very familiar.

Repertory Philippines proudly presents its much-awaited musical offering for 2012 with JEKYLL & HYDE -- a tale of love, redemption and the seductive power of evil adapted from Robert Louis Stevenson’s 1886 novella, with music by Frank Wildhorn and book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse.

JEKYLL & HYDE is set against the backdrop of Victorian London, with the respectable Dr. Jekyll who has begun to display alarmingly erratic behavior. From the gentle, humane Dr. Jekyll, his evil side emerges in the persona of Mr. Hyde when he drinks a secret potion. The plot further becomes complex when a brutal figure haunts the city's streets, committing assault and murder under the cloak of darkness and dismal London fog.

Who would have thought that this psychological thriller is also a musical.  Well I already seen one (Sweeney Todd) and heard of another (Carrie) but I really didn't know that Jekyll and Hyde is also adapted into a Broadway and West End Musical play.  But either way, what's important is I can now experience this masterpiece on a medium that I enjoy a lot not to mention to be played by actors I idolize in the Philippine theater community.

cast L-R: Michael Williams, Jett Pangan, Kalila Aguilos, Cris Villonco

Lead cast will include Michael Williams (Peter Pan) and Jett Pangan (Next to Normal) alternating for the role of  Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr Edward Hyde, Cris Villonco (The Sound of Music) as Emma Carew and Kalila Aguilos (Zsa zsa Zaturnnah) as Lucy Harris.  With just these lead cast lineup, I'm already excited to see this novel come to life on stage.


To be directed by Repertory Philippines Associate Artistic Director Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo (Next to Normal), Jekyll and Hyde is scheduled to open theater curtains on March 16 - April 15 at Onstage Theater, Greenbelt 1, Makati City. For tickets, inquiries and other information, call Repertory Philippines at 571-6926 or 571-4941 or email info@repertory.ph. Tickets are also available through Ticketworld at 891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph.