Beware - Jekyll and Hyde are coming to Maine! The Schoolhouse Arts Center is proud to announce the Maine premier of "Jekyll and Hyde - The Musical", running from October 19 through November 4. Director Deb Doherty delves into the shadow side of the human soul with this dark and brooding tale of a brilliant scientist's inner struggle and its catastrophic results. The story, based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel, takes place in the London of 1885, where Dr. Jekyll dedicates himself to ridding the world of evil by isolating its elements in the human character. Unfortunately, his efforts instead release his evil alter ego, Mr. Hyde, who terrorizes the streets and alleys of London.

Jason Plourde gives a thrilling performance as Dr. Jekyll, transforming onstage into the frightening Mr. Hyde. Struggling to save Jekyll from his alter ego are his closest friend, John Utterson (played by Anthony Teixeira of Limerick), his fiancee Emma Carew (played by Meg Doherty-Scannell of Steep Falls), and Jekyll's loyal butler, Poole (Jerry O'Shea of Portland). Jekyll's work has been rejected by the hypocritical Board of Governers of St. Jude's Mental Hospital, including Emma's father, Sir Danvers Carew (Keith Halliburton of Westbrook), Sir Archibald Proops (Bill Ellis of Standish), Lady Beaconsfield (Jen Diekema of Baldwin), and Simon Stride (Jim Pappaconstantine of Portland). Hyde exacts grisly revenge on various members of the Board, throwing London into a panic over the string of unexplained murders. Kelly Caufield of Limerick plays Lucy, a young woman working in the disreputable dive "The Red Rat", who is befriended by Jekyll and tormented by Hyde. Her low-life companions include the cruel Spider, (Chip Currier of Hollis), tough Nellie (Kristin Messana of Limerick), and other street-wise women of the night.

Mature theater goers will not want to miss this dramatic debut, complete with a haunting musical score, startling technical production, and edge-of-your-seat pacing. Shows are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $14.00 for adults and $10.00 for students and seniors. Order your tickets today by calling our box office outlet at 642-8273 or order online at schoolhousearts.org. For more information about the production, call the Schoolhouse at 642-3743. Schoolhouse is just past the intersection of Rt 35 and Rt 114 in Standish.

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