Character guide
John Utterson
from Jekyll & Hyde
John Utterson is Dr. Jekyll's loyal friend and lawyer in Jekyll & Hyde, serving as one of the few people who tries to understand what is happening to him.
- Show
- Jekyll & Hyde
- Premiered
- 1997
- Role
- Supporting
- Composer
- Frank Wildhorn
Who is John Utterson?
Utterson is a steady, rational presence amid the chaos surrounding Jekyll's transformation, offering friendship and legal counsel while growing increasingly alarmed by his friend's secretive behavior. He functions as an outside observer whose concern helps the audience track just how far Jekyll has drifted from himself.
In Stevenson's original novella, Utterson is effectively the narrator investigating the mystery, and the musical draws on that same function, using him as a grounded, trustworthy figure amid the show's heightened melodrama.
Utterson's role in the story
As a supporting character, Utterson does not carry the vocal demands of the leads, but the role calls for a solid, dependable baritone or bass-baritone voice suited to a mature, sensible figure. He is often the character who voices the audience's own growing suspicion and dread.
Performers and audiences appreciate Utterson for the stability he brings to the production, a reminder of ordinary decency and friendship standing against the story's descent into obsession and violence.
Frequently asked
What show is John Utterson from?
John Utterson is a character in Jekyll & Hyde, the 1997 Broadway musical with music by Frank Wildhorn.
Is John Utterson a lead or supporting role?
Utterson is a supporting role, acting as Jekyll's close friend and legal confidant.
Who wrote the music for Jekyll & Hyde?
Frank Wildhorn composed the score.
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