The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; Markheim

The inclusion of the obscure Stevenson short story, “Markheim,” distinguishes this excellent audio version of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from many previous recordings. Roy McMillan is more than up to the formidable task of sketching the two personalities trapped in one body with just his voice; he’s so successful that listeners may think different actors depict the respectable Victorian doctor and his brutish, murderous alter ego. McMillan also deserves kudos for maintaining listener interest during the novella’s lengthy expository sections. While “Markheim”—about a cryptic encounter between a man who unexpectedly turns violent and a supernatural being that might be the Devil—is less compelling than the author’s classic novella, McMillan again provides its characters with distinct voices. (Sept.)