With gags and asides to the audience, An All-American Riot has a vaudevillian vibe, often fast-paced and engaging, which unfortunately makes the slower scenes drag by contrast.

Kitty: I adored this production – which honestly surprised me, because I’ve seen this musical performed elsewhere and … didn’t love it.

Mischa: I’ve never seen this show before, but also really enjoyed it. Okay, I’ll admit, the storyline is not amazing. But the execution was superb.

M: Not to complain too much about the adaptation itself, but I think there’s a strange move to make Hyde’s attacks justifiable. He embodies emotional impulses that the hypocritical Victorian establishment, incarnated in the hospital board, doesn’t want to let free. But at this point, this makes Hyde look righteously indignant rather than evil.

K: I definitely agree with that. In the musical, Hyde becomes almost like Jekyll’s Tyler Durden.

Ripcord, now playing at the Spotlight Theatre, is a hoot, as well as an all-too-relatable piece of storytelling for those with ornery parents or grandparents. Sharply directed by Jessica Taylor, and featuring an incredible cast, this show is a charming addition to a long summer season.