A Revival in Need of More Work

Jekyll & Hyde

What has become of legit singing? Where is simplicity? Has musical theatre totally morphed into a reflection of what the rest of America has become: a land of excess where, like the cars it drives, the speeds at which everything travels, the prices we pay, and 99% of its music have evolved into more, bigger, faster and louder? This seems to be director/choreographer Jeff Calhoun’s modus-operandi for his revival of Frank Wildhorn’s reworked magnum opus, which has been around in some form or other since 1990. It ultimately made its Broadway debut in 1997 and, between that production, national and international tours and local productions, it has developed quite a cult following. And like this pre-Broadway tour, that earlier incarnation also played Chicago prior to opening in New York City. Hopefully there will be some adjustments made before this production reaches the Big Apple.