A conversation with JEKYLL AND HYDE's Matravius Avent

Matravius Avent, top with Elizabeth Grace and Jackie Brecker
photo courtesy Glynn / Sheperd / JALT Media  

by Haddi Meyer

The title characters from Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde," which was turned into the hit musical Jekyll and Hyde, are the kind of dark, complex and rigorous roles that actors who invite challenge leap at the chance to play. The fact that, in this musical, both characters are portrayed by the same individual requires the kind of incredible talent, drive, and stage presence that allows Matravius Avent to easily slip into the role, like Dr. Jekyll slips into Mr. Hyde.

It's clear from sitting down and speaking with Avent that the amount of emotion and enthusiasm with which he speaks about the role shows an undeniable love of and passion for theater. An accomplished actor and singer who works continually at theatres across the Valley, Avent says he was inspired from a young age after seeing a performance of Ragtime as a child.

“That was the first time I had ever seen somebody on stage who looked like me. A black man, performing a lead role and just, destroying it,” Avent stated, “I was like, holy crap, I could do that! I would love to do that. It was the first time I had ever felt that I could make a career out of theater and performing.”

As for Jekyll and Hyde, Avent is full of enthusiasm and elegance when speaking about the show which is the first production from Arizona Regional Theatre, the brand new company co-founded by Kayla Etheridge and Kimberly Sheperd. Avent, a prolific performer who has worked around the globe sang nothing but praise about the show's cast and production team.

“We have such a good cast and I am so excited for this show,” Avent laughed, “The entire team is pretty much all women. That never happens, ever. So I don’t think there’s anywhere in the state where you’re going to find that, so I think that’s really cool. Both Kayla and Kim are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their show, and it’s been a lot of fun to work with them.”

In regards to his co-leads, Jackie Brecker who plays the complex and kind courtesan Lucy, and  Elizabeth Grace who plays Dr. Jekyll’s loyal and supportive fiancée Emma, Avent not only said that they were “both fantastic actresses” and that it was easy to work alongside them, but also that they were instrumental in his characterization of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

“I sat down with Kayla and Kim, and Jackie just sitting around discussing what the characters are and how they interact with each other. What makes Jekyll’s interactions with Lucy, different with Hyde’s interactions with Lucy. Then I did the same thing with Liz. Having that kind of table discussion about what these characters are, helped a lot in preparing for each side.”

Avent described the roles of Jekyll and Hyde as “tough, but fun,” and touched on coming to the revelation that he was definitely more Jekyll than Hyde.

Matravius Avent

“Doing things in the way Jekyll would do, is much more easy for me. So, the way I would sit, or the way I would walk around come easy. I didn’t have to spend as much time focusing on Jekyll in that way, but for Hyde, everything is so much more unnatural. The way he would slouch in a chair,”
Avent grinned as he slid down his chair back, splaying his legs out before popping back up, “or the way he would grab something is just very different. He has complete disregard for feelings and space, whereas Jekyll is very, kind of, type A. Everything belongs in its spot. That’s kind of how I am as well, but Hyde just doesn’t care. Everything is kind of his way or the highway.”

As Avent described the physicalities of Jekyll and Hyde, he was incredibly joyful as he stomped, slouched and pantomimed to demonstrate his take on Hyde. Avent shows a clear love for the roles he is in, something which the audience will immediately pick up on in the form of a passionate and captivating performance.

Specifically, he mentioned, without giving anything away, of course, that at the end of the show, there is a scene which truly captures the duality and depravity of Jekyll and Hyde, saying “Hyde has done a lot of terrible things up until this point in the show and Jekyll has really had just as much as he could. At that moment there is a lot of back and forth between Jekyll and Hyde. I think that’s going to be the moment that shows their duality the most in the quickest amount of time.”

Avent also stated that despite Jekyll and Hyde’s themes of danger and depravity, as depicted in the actions of Hyde in the show, that he hopes the audience leaves contemplating “how they think about things. It would be cool if people would notice those crazy thoughts every once in a while and really try to figure out why they are having them. A little bit of self reflection, I guess.”

Jekyll and Hyde might be a story of depravity, lust and danger, but the time I spent speaking with Avent was truly delightful. Avent is a charming, talented, and passionate actor and speaking with him makes you excited to see the wonderful work that he and the rest of the Jekyll and Hyde cast and crew are putting so much time and effort into creating.

CLICK HERE for more information on this production, which runs from September 28th to October 7th