Henrietta & Eleanor: A Retelling of Jekyll and Hyde
By: Robert Louis Stevenson / Dramatist: Libby Spurrier / Narrated By: Holliday Grainger, Clive Mantle, Carla Mendonça, Miranda Raison
Length: 2 hrs and 50 mins
SUPERB production that starts whizbang sharp and then…? Scooby Doooo, where are youuuu?!?
Seriously, am I gonna out m’self as someone who was iffy on Robert Louis Stevenson’s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde as the ending rather left me with a >meh< taste in m’ mouth? Well, okay then. Let’s go on to what MUST be better: A 21st Century retelling of that classic which of COURSE learned from the >meh<-ish-ness of the original and no doubt took it places like crazy… and dude! it’s women this time!
And so I was all chipper, began listening to Henrietta & Eleanor and was immediately smitten by the absolutely jaw-dropping production. Ominous music, life going on in a jam-packed city… and then we’re transported to what our hero, a lawyer, who witnessed it saw: A small lump of a young woman, with a bit of a limp, goes all crazed-like, no provocation, hauls off and stomps and kicks the beJESus outta a nurse who was just trundling on home, minding her own business. In this production, there is the frenzied cackling of whom we’ll come to see is Eleanor, as she thrashes mightily away. Sounds of thrashing, evil and maniacal laughter… AWEsome production.
Totally, without a doubt, this is a stellar production with razor sharp editing and sound, effects used properly to instill a sense of atmosphere and a sense of place, topnotch voice acting from every single character, from befuddled friends of Henrietta, co-workers, even to the policeman who is On The Case! So, noooo—even tho’ I DID start getting twitchy by the end? It had NOTHING to do with the production.
Nope, rather it had to do with the fact that aaaaalll that action and aaaaalll those terrifying happenings? Well, they kinda sorta dry up, and the story takes a turn away from action… to passive information passing. The listener, once caught up in our heroes and heroines DOING, soon winds up in the unenviable position of sitting back and having to just listen, unengaged, as the story becomes one long: Let’s Read This Letter To Find Out What’s Been Going On… And even tho’ Henrietta kinda comes off as a bit of a spaz and wet noodle as friends ask after her, are concerned for her at the start of the story, as she always pooh-poohs their concerns, and shouts: NO! DON’T COME UP TO SEE ME! Well, as situations become more dire, and >gasp< Murder Most Foul takes place, what does our Dramatist do but goes and axes her from the story: Rather than having Henrietta DO; suddenly we’re “treated” to Henrietta Nowhere and leaving her story and what’s been going on… in a letter. Which is annoying enough, but considering hers ain’t the only Letter left around to be read?
Ho hum… and, as my sister pointed out: Where are the women? Cuz you see, our hero is John, Henrietta’s lawyer and once upon a time party buddy at University. Henrietta and Eleanor don’t come around as the story progresses; they just sorta disappear. Which is unfortunate, is it not?
Now where I come to the “Scooby Doo” thoughts: All SORTS of foul things happen, and our little group of friends of Henrietta spend sooo much time TALKING about What Should We Do? And where once John was shouting to Henrietta: Let me help you; let me call the Police (As Eleanor is out and about wreaking havoc)? Why soon, as the little group o’ concerned people are stumbling onto all SORTS of wretched scenes, their responses are: Gee, this is kinda sorta sooo bad, I think we should find some brandy and have a drink… or two… or three… A body is getting cold on the ground, and they’re all: Can I top your wine glass? -and- Hmm, ya think we should call the police? …No, really, lemme give you another shot cuz we sorely need the drink.
And then, why here’s yet another letter we’ve been waiting to open. Whazza? The police have been called anyway and they’d like a statement? Welllll, this letter here, you know. Give me another drink, won’t you? There’s my good chap!
Henrietta disappears from the story, and rather than having her acting out and fessing up about her dual nature that she’s managed to separate into an entirely different entity, able to express both sides of herself, the staid professional during the week that had morphed into Party Animal on the weekends, the dramatist chooses to relegate her to voiceover for her letter Telling All.
Booooo!
Kinda coulda gotten philosophical on the Nature of Our Dual Characters, how we present ourselves with the other side, our Shadow-selves. What will win out: Better Natures -or- Darkest most passionate driving forces? But nope, it’s men leading the way, namely John getting schizzy, withholding evidence, ignoring police procedures, and oh yeh: Asking for that fourth bit o’ brandy.
Truly, tho’! STELLAR production, from start to finish. This is a totally immersive experience, and whilst m’ sister can multitask during performances, me? I had to settle down, and devote m’ time solely to listening as I was surrounded by the sights and smells of London; the panic of Henrietta; the frenzied (And MOST rude!) outbursts by Eleanor…
…the conTINual refilling of wine glasses… and John’s increasingly petulant whinging…
Coulda been great, this; really coulda been great.
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