Billed as the ‘Most Frightful Musical since Sweeney Todd’, this production certainly did what it said on the tin, featuring impressively-staged stabbings, slashed jugulars and gunshots. 

RL Stevenson’s classic Victorian novel, rewritten for the stage by Leslie Bricusse, tells the tale of what we now call a ‘mad scientist’ whose experiments create a malevolent alter-ego. 

This Company is blessed with three exceptionally gifted performers who carried the show magnificently; Paul Marsh was superb in the title roles, Carol Robinson displayed real emotion as tart-with-a-heart Lucy and Becky Ranger (sic - Rungen) was positively luminous as Emma. Both girls sang beautifully and their duet was the highlight of the show. The set was well constructed, props were skilfully manoeuvred, costumes, lighting and sound were excellent and Neil Streeter’s musicians provided fine accompaniment, although the keyboards were often too loud. 

Director Claire Nias also assembled a chorus to die for – and many of them did!

Alan Johns