2007-2008 Season: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde
Associate Artistic Director Kirsten Brandt interviews playwright Jeffrey Hatcher and director David Ira Goldstein of San Jose Repertory Theatre’s production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
Full Interview
1. Introductions of Jeffrey Hatcher and David Ira Goldstein
2. What made you want to do a new adaptation and what about Jeffrey Hatcher’s style made you think of him to write the adaptation?
3. Did you find that there were things about the original text that made it difficult for adapting it for a modern audience difficult?
4. In what ways do you feel this story still has applicable themes to a modern audience?
5. In the novella there is not a strong female presence and yet in your adaptation you have created one in the character of Elizabeth. Why was that important to you?
6. The play is staged with an ensemble of actors: one plays Jekyll, one plays Elizabeth and everyone else plays multiple roles including Hyde. Why did this structure appeal to you so much?
7. Much of the staging in the script calls for a single red door as the focal point. Why is that image so critical?
8. You’ve set the action of the play in an operating theatre. Can you talk about the inspiration for the set?
9. Can you talk about the costumes?
10. What might surprise people about this adaptation?