Hard to believe that this Northern Ireland Premiere of Jekyll Hyde was an amatuer production. Polish and professionalism were evident in every aspect of this show - the cast, set, props, costumes, lighting, stageteam and orchestra. A solid and functional set of levels and steps, designed by the shows Director Brian Logan, was fully utilised and beautifully lit to allow characters to be seen, scenes to change unobtrusively and the cast to move on and off with ease.

Two framed screens at the back were well used showing black and white paintings of old London, grand house interiors and then moving coloured psychedelic shapes and morphing portraits of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in appropriate scenes.

Brian Logan was assisted in direction by Alan McClarty and producer Ronny Kelly who also helped build the set and operated the sound desk. Direction was tight and dynamic - the whole cast portraying the atmosphere of the period. The costumes, designed and made by June Young of "That Looks Good" Paisley, Scotland, were in character and period and good quality.

Choreographer Sharon Wilson, assisted by Heather McCandless (who played one of the prostitutes) moved the whole company well throughtout - not a big dancing show but "Bring on the Men" was particularly memorable!

Musical Director Eric Boyd fitted an excellent 12 piece orchestra into a very small area to the side of the stage and the individual and ensemble singing on stage was remarkable.

Jekyll & Hyde has a large number of male roles and Ballywillan are fortunate to have so many good voices right down to the teenage "newsboys" in the chorus. Alan McClarty was a strong and sympathetic Gabriel John Utterson, as was Sir Danvers played by his father David McClarty. Other members of the hypocritical Board of Governers of St. Jude's Mental Hospital - "The Bishop of Basingstoke" Harry Stinson, "Lord Glossop" Dermot McNally, "Sir Archibald Proops" Mark Crawford, "Lord Savage" Richard Campbell and "Lady Beaconsfield" Olive Hemphill - were all strong cameos and one felt some justification in their demise.
David Ferguson as Simon Stride and Colin McClarty as the nasty pimp Spider were strong and well cast, as were the smaller roles of Poole, Bisset and The Priest played by Tom Waddell, Brian Wilkinson and
Carlton Mullineux respectively and Evie Ferguson as prostitute Nellie.

Fiona Warke gave a beautiful performance as Emma Carew and Helen Wilkinson's portrayal of Lucy Harris showed great depth of character, from hardened prostitute to vulnerable lover.

Pride of place must go to Mark Adamson who gave his all in the demanding dual role of Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. Aged only 23, he acted and sang with the character and emotions of someone twice his age and thoroughly deserved the standing ovation given to him at the end. A performance of real quality.

It was a real treat to see this production of Jekyll & Hyde and my thanks go to Ballywillan for their innovation and hospitality.