Overview: My alarm went off just after 6.00am and I still have some 280 miles to drive to reach the destination of my next adjudication. I mention this fact because a journey, supposed to take five to six hours ended up taking nearly eight with thick fog and a road accident in the Midlands. And yet every single mile and delay was well worth it to experience the Ballywillan Drama Group's production of Jekyll and Hyde - The Musical - in Coleraine.

This musical is both a challenge and a triumph although not achieving all the success on Broadway and in London that it really deserved. For a first production in Northern Ireland, Ballywillan Drama Group embraced all of the challenges of the show and delivered a production which brought the local community the real value of this great show in a very entertaining way.

Perhaps the biggest headache for a production like Jekyll and Hyde is finding a very special performer for the lead role. The energy and dynamism required has to be balanced with talent and ability and a special sensitivity on stage........ Mark Adamson, well known in the Coleraine and Londonderry areas, seized these challenges and delivered. He showed everyone that "This is the Moment."

Dr Jekyll has a love interest and this is met by Emma Carew played by Fiona Warke. Her strength in performance was a deep understanding of when to allow Dr Jekyll/ Edward Hyde to occupy centre stage and carry the story. Emma has a well presented voice and showed the cast that her role still had much importance.

Gabriel Utterson was played by Alan McClarty (also the Assistant Director.) Alan brought considerable bearing to the role alongside Dr Jekyll. He also has a very powerful stage presence matched by his vocal characterisation. Alan added some gravitas to the role and made a most favourable contribution to this memorable production.

Helen Wilkinson played the part of Lucy Harris, her role to both challenge the impending nuptials of Emma and Dr Jekyll and to jointly explore her own internal search for identity. Her performance was also enjoyable, particularly for the persona she carried over the footlights - well done!

The story of how Dr Jekyll seeks financial support for his medical experiments into human behaviour brings him into contact with a variety of characters and Ballywillan Drama Group is blessed with a range of actors and actresses who can bring these roles into fruition. You need a Bishop of Basingstoke - Harry Stinson obliges, you require a Knight of the Realm and David McClarty brings his talent to the stage. You need a Priest and Carlton Mullineux delivers and when you are visiting the Red Rat, the dancers bring the scene to life (and Death!)

Other membrs of the cast contributed to this excellent production with splendid sets and realisation the whole company were involved in taking this production from "page to stage" and with wonderful leadership and support from Eric Boyd and his orchestra, Brian Logan's direction brought the local community a very entertaining and enjoyable production.

Costumes, lighting and makeup all contributed to this very demanding show and it is recognised that a real sense of team involvement and delivery helped to make this a most impressive show. The large supporting chorus performed well but I must save some special comments for a set in Dr Jekyll's Laboratory. The script probably calls for some glassware and frothing chemicals and Brian Logan's masterful design of this scene and then it's realisation left a particular impression. The use of the strobe light under a glass phial was really creative.

Now my homeward return journey (a little quicker) still made all the 580 miles worthwhile. I was still humming "This is the Moment" and "Take Me as I Am" as I finally arrived home at 4.00am.

It seem hardly enough to say thank you to Ballywillan Drama Group for the effort, creativity and energy that they brought to this show but everyone responsible for Jekyll and Hyde - The Musical should take a moment to celebrate the warmth of applause from the audience which reflected the challenging ambition of this show. I also thank the cast for the wonderful chance to meet them and share some thoughts with them on Saturday afternoon. Well done to all!

Graham Sutton for AIMS as Gilbert Adjudicator, February 2007.