Henrietta & Eleanor: A Retelling of Jekyll and Hyde cover art

Henrietta & Eleanor: A Retelling of Jekyll and Hyde

An Audible Original Drama

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Henrietta & Eleanor: A Retelling of Jekyll and Hyde

By: Robert Louis Stevenson, Libby Spurrier - dramatist
Narrated by: Holliday Grainger, Clive Mantle, Carla Mendonça, Miranda Raison
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Summary

First published to critical acclaim in 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson’s mesmerising thriller is a terrifying study of the duality of man's nature, and it is the book which established Stevenson's reputation as a writer.

In this Audible Original drama Stevenson’s story is transported to modern-day London, and instead we meet Henrietta Jekyll and Eleanor Hyde.

Dr Jekyll, a charming doctor, explores the possibility of dividing the dark and light side of her personality, but in doing this she creates a monster, Eleanor Hyde. For many years she manages to live under the radar, keeping her dark secret unknown to those around her. However, gradually her evil side gains strength until Dr Jekyll is overwhelmed by Eleanor Hyde, to disastrous consequences. An exploration of human duality and forces of good and evil, this modern retelling is compelling and eerie and retains the disturbing nature of the original text.

Starring Holliday Grainger (Cinderella, My Cousin Rachel, Strike) and Carla Mendonça (My Parents Are Aliens, So Awkward).

Also starring Tim Bentinck, Bill Fellows, Hugh Fraser, Holliday Grainger, Clive Mantle, Carla Mendonca, Katarina Olsson, Miranda Raison and Hugh Ross.

©2018 Audible, Ltd (P)2018 Audible, Ltd Classics Paranormal Fiction Scary Fantasy Mystery Thriller Adaptation
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Summary

First published to critical acclaim in 1886, Robert Louis Stevenson’s mesmerising thriller is a terrifying study of the duality of man's nature, and it is the book which established Stevenson's reputation as a writer.

In this Audible Original drama Stevenson’s story is transported to modern-day London, and instead we meet Henrietta Jekyll and Eleanor Hyde.

Dr Jekyll, a charming doctor, explores the possibility of dividing the dark and light side of her personality, but in doing this she creates a monster, Eleanor Hyde. For many years she manages to live under the radar, keeping her dark secret unknown to those around her. However, gradually her evil side gains strength until Dr Jekyll is overwhelmed by Eleanor Hyde, to disastrous consequences. An exploration of human duality and forces of good and evil, this modern retelling is compelling and eerie and retains the disturbing nature of the original text.

Starring Holliday Grainger (Cinderella, My Cousin Rachel, Strike) and Carla Mendonça (My Parents Are Aliens, So Awkward).

Also starring Tim Bentinck, Bill Fellows, Hugh Fraser, Holliday Grainger, Clive Mantle, Carla Mendonca, Katarina Olsson, Miranda Raison and Hugh Ross.

©2018 Audible, Ltd (P)2018 Audible, Ltd.

Critic reviews

"A solid retelling with quick pacing and atmospheric narration heightening jarring, bizarre circumstances. A full cast rounds out the life of Jekyll as her friends discuss her, read her correspondence, and have interactions with the young doctor and her sinister counterpart. While all the actors involved work to create this chilling story, some of the strongest moments involve the confessions of Henrietta, portrayed by Carla Mendonça, and the unnerving telltale laughter of Eleanor, portrayed by Holliday Grainger. An enjoyable listen for fans of dramatic re-creations and science fiction." (AudioFile Magazine)
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When Audible get these modern re-imaginings right it can be spectacularly good, just check out the wonderful Romeo and Jude if you haven't already and need convincing. They can also do great gothic and ghostly stories like the Darkwater Bride. This though is a strange hodge podge of ideas and themes and struggles for identity. It is a classic story cleverly re-imagined with female protagonists and set in the current day, definitely an intriguing idea and definitely I thought worthy of spending some time with.

Unfortunately I felt that it fell short, and not just in terms of its brevity. Although it is set in the modern world you'd hardly know it from most of the writing and the soundtrack. The actors sounded much more like something from a Victorian gothic, the music more dreary than the promised eerie of the blurb and the whole story lacked any real kind of edge. It never finds its own identity or generates an atmosphere that grabs the listener.

Not everything has to be quite as edgy as the likes of Romeo and Jude or indeed be authentically gothic but this just falls limply in between the cracks somewhere and never manages to gain traction as a result. It's not awful by any means but Audible have created much better.

A Modern Re-telling That's Stuck in the Past

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An interesting idea that did not live up to its promise, nor use the full potential of audio. The main male character is rather anodyne, and his supposed gay relationship sounds entirely businesslike with no affection or intimacy. The entire second half essentially consists of three people together reading a letter from Jekyll/Hyde, with six or seven interruptions where they simply say "Gosh, I can't believe this, can you, I need a drink!" The sound effects are not good - all footsteps sound the same, whether indoors or out. Essentially this is a literal re-reading of the original Jekyll and Hyde, with changed names.

Not an inaginative retelling

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Well worth a listen. Brings and ills story to life again, in a modern setting.

Fantastic!

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I like the ‘play like’ narration of this one it helps you to follow it easier.

Definitely worth a listen.

A good short listen

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The dramatisation was first class yet the story was a little lacking, in my opinion.

Good.

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