Reece Shearsmith delivers a haunting solo performance in the BBC’s atmospheric retelling of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, writes KATHERINE SANKEY
Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a classic tale of morality, science and horror, adapted countless times over the decades.
This new version from the BBC’s The Read, however, offers a slightly different experience from the usual macabre movie night.
Here, the work is read by a well-known actor — in this case, Reece Shearsmith — putting Stevenson’s own words centre stage.
The programme follows Stevenson’s story quite closely, although it has been adapted to fit within an hour.
It begins with the lawyer Gabriel Utterson and the stories he hears about Hyde, before moving on to Dr Jekyll’s own confession, creating a sort of two-act structure.
The episode is further broken down into several parts.
Rather than remaining static, the actor is moved about and filmed from different angles in two main locations: an office and a laboratory.
Both rooms are suitably Victorian in style, immersing the viewer in the world of the story.
Shearsmith is costumed appropriately too, wearing first a brown suit and then a beautiful waistcoat.
Atmospheric cutaways to key places and moments add further interest and variety to the visuals.
These scenes are presented in black and white, contrasting with the main narrative and invoking the feel of an old horror film.
They also reflect the different perspectives of the two main narrators.
When Utterson recounts his observations of Hyde, we see the character as a silhouette or as a shadow on the wall.
When Jekyll speaks about him, Shearsmith takes on the role of Hyde, contorting his face and staring into a mirror.
I also liked the fact that, when Utterson describes objects such as a will or a letter, there’s an overhead shot of a desk with the relevant item being examined.
Music and sound effects are used to punctuate the dialogue, but are not constantly present in the background.
This allows for quieter moments where the viewer can fully concentrate on the narrative.
When sound is used, though, it’s very effective.
A rush of violins and a scream, for example, highlight the awful moment when a girl is trampled.
Then there is the performer himself.
I think Reece Shearsmith was an excellent choice for this particular classic.
He is well-known for writing and appearing in horror stories, so his presence feels entirely appropriate here.
He comes across as engaging and animated, despite often being confined to chairs.
Moreover, while he excels at giving voice to numerous characters, it is during Jekyll’s emotive confession that I think he really shines.
His portrayal of a man who is regretful yet resigned to his fate feels honest and even heart-wrenching.
Altogether, I cannot find any major faults with this production.
A few shots are reused, and the format will suit some viewers better than others, but that’s about it.
The programme succeeds in combining Stevenson’s wonderful writing with the magic of television and performance, serving as a great introduction to the text.
Furthermore, I think using a single narrator to perform multiple roles is very much in keeping with the book’s themes.
Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a story that explores the duplicity of human nature and the various parts of ourselves — both good and bad — that reside within us.
Shearsmith’s performance can be seen to represent this fragmentation of psyche and personality, as he becomes not only Jekyll and Hyde, but also transforms himself into characters like Poole and Utterson.
In short, this rendition of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is well worth watching.
If you want to experience a modern version of a fireside tale, then this might be the programme for you!
Watch The Read: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde with Reece Shearsmith
KATHERINE SANKEY is a freelance writer from the East Midlands. A recent graduate of the University of Kent, she has written flash fiction for Daily Science Fiction, Flash Point Science Fiction, Coffin Bell, Black Hare Press and Wicked Shadow Press. Her most recent short horror story ‘Coffin Box’ was recorded as a Patreon audio for the website Creepy.
