When I was at school, Art and Science were two completely different topics, but progressing from STEM to STEAM is something that was what I believe to be an essential development. Art not only promotes creative thinking, but it also enhances visual learning, boosts motor skills, and improves critical decision-making. The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is the prime example of how art and science can combine to create something both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Seeing the one-man performance rendition of this novel for the science festival was no exception to this. It prompted me to consider that science has a much darker history that, when morals are thrown out of the window by a sociopathic character like Dr Jekyll, can be dangerous. The show left me pondering on what is acceptable, ethical even, in the name of science, and where we as humans should draw the line. I feel in any other format than a performance, I perhaps wouldn’t have been invested in asking myself such questions.
More than that, I found myself reminded that unbridled ambition comes at a cost. An artist who stares at the canvas for too long loses sight of the bigger picture. A scientist who participates in human experimentation may one day find themselves an insane experiment. A hero in the wrong scenario can just as easily become the villain. This kind of show brings about catharsis for the audience; inducing and then releasing negative emotions via a character you can relate to, which then leaves you feeling lighter and happier.
I’ve never seen Jekyll and Hyde performed by one person before, and it still had just the same impact as it would have, had it been performed by a whole cast. The actor was highly skilled at transitioning between characters; changing their body language, gait, facial expressions, and accent to illustrate each one – you could really see the different personalities of each character, and it was extremely effective.
It was thoroughly absorbing to consider the type of decisions science can bring about, albeit in a fictional setting, alongside how the actor’s mastery over his own emotions was consistently being mirrored by the way characters wished to control their own dark feelings, and I really enjoyed the show overall.
Written by YNAC member Terran Burrell
YNA COLLECTIVE 