The Following Review was posted on http://www.totallytheatre.com/  (however - as the play will only run for the next 2 weeks I am posting the review here for archive reasons).

So we're in a pub within a pub and the main focus of the story takes place within another Story. And unless you have lived on another planet you will be familiar with the basic premise of the Jekyll and Hyde - A story about a man who is socially inept in society but brilliant Doctor in profession who concocts a Potion in his Lab and due to a freak accident whereby he spills the mixture it becomes forever contaminated - never for the exact mixture to be concocted ever again (although I've always felt Dr Jekyll didn't try very hard to come up with the Potent Mixture again).

Richard Mansfield (played by Richard Latham) the very famous American Actor of the late 19th Century who once was famously questioned by Police in connection with the Jack the Ripper Murders because he drew suspicions from the public for his brilliant portrayal of the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde at Londons Lyceum Theatre. We find him drunk and in a state of panic not wanting to go outside into the dark East End, taking shelter behind the piano at the Ten Bells. It is upon the discovery of who he is and with questionable awe wondering why he might be scared that he proceeds to retell the Story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde using only the props that you would find in an old East London Boozer - Barrels, Tankards, Darts, Brasses and Yards of Ale all finely used to recreate the physical world of sleazy Victorian London with superb imagination and flare.

Once we moved past the East End Drunk Caricatures that I felt started the play weakly I and the audience began to let ourselves go with the highly original imagination of the 4 actors up on stage. And once the Story within a Story gets going there is little to fault it - with stealth, it fast becomes an enjoyable ride, that moves from scene to scene with quirky comedy and style that makes for a refreshing take on the old classic story, albeit simple, the Lighting Designer (Derek Caryle) gets the scene transitions really spot on with each new Scene.

The actors really did command and use the stage to its full potential, the night I was there, and despite a couple of errors (a potion wouldn't light up as planned - was clearly forgotten and enjoyed by all thanks to the the comedy improvisation that the Audience and the Actors clearly loved). All four actors put on a strong solid performance that wouldn't look out of place on a far larger stage in London's Westend.

William Hartley clearly commanded and stole the show with his representation of Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. Truly mesmerising, but I would imagine some of the credit probably needs to go to the Director (Jonny Kemp) or all the company who came up with the idea of making Edward Hyde a Strong powerful 19th Century Casanova (almost like Victorian England's remake of American Psycho's "Patrick Bateman") instead of a vicious Beast like monster - how Hyde is usually portrayed in past renditions.

Hartly though doesn't allow his presence to walk over the other 3 actors but instead compliments and enhances the performances of the others - especially incestuous love interest Mary Ann (Jekyll's Sister) played by Jennifer Bryden (who also plays Agnes, Mille De Rives, Pamela Jolly and Catriona) it couldn't be clearer that there is Chemistry between these two actors, effectively enhancing solid performances with sleazy romance and desire - never a bad thing when your exploring murky East End Life.

Arthur James (Publican, Poole, Lanyon, Macpoole, Train Conductor) a recent newcomer to the London stage having previously been a Captain in the British Army where he served both in Iraq and Afghanistan may only be playing minor less important roles in the story, it does not matter for the way he was able to bring them across to the audience added value and enjoyment on all levels - certainly a master of facial expressions and somebody to watch out for in future productions.

I congratulate this Production and hope it gets a longer run than the brief 2 weeks it has left in London. So if your bored of the west end and in dire need of of something refreshing to quench that blood thirsty split personality of yours (Stevenson would have us believe we all have one) then get yourself to the Kings Head before its gone.

9/10