Chagrin Valley Little Theatre

Press Releases

"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" brings October drama to Chagrin - 9/28/10

CHAGRIN FALLS, OH - Chagrin Valley Little Theatre has selected a timely piece of material for the run-up to Halloween with Jeffrey Hatcher's drama Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, playing Fridays and Saturdays from October 15th and through the 30th, with a Sunday matinee on the 17th. This inventive adaptation of the 1886 Robert Louis Stevenson tale premiered in 2008 and was nominated by the Mystery Writers of America for an "Edgar Award" for Best Play.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an examination of the gray area between good and evil. Dr. Henry Jekyll (played by Dale Van Niel) is a gentlemanly experimental scientist who takes a special concoction he's created which turns him into the vile criminal Mr. Edward Hyde, a man free to commit the sins that Jekyll himself is too reserved to comprehend. Jeffrey Hatcher spins the yarn with a haunting, driving force, as Dr. Jekyll becomes increasingly conflicted and unbalanced while discovering the frightening truth behind his black-outs and the experimental drugs that cause them.

Meanwhile, the affection that has been denied to Dr. Jekyll falls to Hyde (played at varying moments in the play by Craig Gifford, Tiffany Ricci, Jerry Schaber and Clay Von Carlowitz). He is loved by the bold Elizabeth (Leah Frires), who loves the creature in spite of the evil she knows he is guilty of. As Jekyll attempts to save his research, convert Elizabeth to his own, and separate himself from the creature he has increasingly become, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde turns into a cat-and-mouse game between two sides of one man that leaves the audience to question just who they should be rooting for.

CVLT is partnering with Jekyll's Kitchen (across from the theatre at 17 River Street - JekyllsKitchen.com), to offer a special prize package during the WVIZ/PBS & 90.3 WCPN® ideastream® Pledge Drive. Throughout the day on Sunday, October 17, listeners will be able to enter a drawing for a fabulous four-person meal (up to $300 in value) at Jekyll's Kitchen, with tickets to see Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde afterwards. In addition, the winner will receive 8 Flex passes to use for the remainder of the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre's season.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde will be on stage Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 PM, October 15 - 30, with a Sunday performance at 2 PM on October 17. Tickets are $16 regular, $12 for students and seniors, and are available at www.CVLT.org, or by phone at 440-247-8955, Monday through Saturday from 1-6 PM. Complete details on CVLT's 81st Season are available online at www.CVLT.org. The theater is located at 40 River Street in historic Chagrin Falls Village.

Chagrin Valley Little Theatre is generously funded by Cuyahoga County residents through Cuyahoga Arts and Culture and is supported by the Ohio Arts Council.

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