Jekyll & Hyde.qxd - State Theatre

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J A C KT H ER I P P E R !! !! !!Brian Parsons, DirectorLouis—I did a little reading about RichardMansfield’s London production of“J&H.” There are some intriguingcoincidences:— The stage manager of the theaterwhere Mansfield was performing theplay was none other than BramStoker, author of “Dracula.” Iwonder if his own novel wasinspired by the idea oftransformation in Jekyll & Hyde?— During the run of the play, theinfamous serial killer Jack theRipper was making headlines inLondon for the grisly murdersof at least five prostitutes.Let’s talk about working these characters andevents into our play.—BrianPossible characters forour play? How could wework them into the story?Bram Stoker - At the time he wasstage managing Dr. Jekyll, he wouldhave been about about 40 years old.B A C K G R O U N DJack the Ripper“Jack the Ripper” is the nickname given to a serial killerwho brutally murdered at least five women in a poor, crimeriddendistrict of London called Whitechapel in the secondhalf of 1888. The name “Ripper” refers to the killer’sgruesome ‘signature,’ which was to cut his victims’throats and then mutilate their bodies. The victims,women who worked as prostitutes, were typicallykilled in a public place.The Ripper was never caught, and his true identityhas not been determined to this day. This unsolvedmystery has inspired authors, historians, andamateur sleuths—known as “Ripperologists”—topresent a variety of colorful theories about who mighthave committed the murders. Some of the peopleaccused of being Jack the Ripper have includedthe actor Richard Mansfield and Prince AlbertVictor (known as “Prince Eddy”), who wassecond in line to the British throne.The number and names of the Ripper’s victims are thesubject of much debate. Some lists contain as many as 18suspected victims. Most agree on the following five women, allknown or suspected prostitutes.•Mary Ann (“Polly”) Nichols, killed on Friday, August 31, 1888•Annie Chapman, “Dark Annie,” killed on Saturday, September8, 1888•Elizabeth Stride, “Long Liz,” killed on Sunday, September 30,1888•Catherine Eddowes, killed on Sunday, September 30, 1888•Mary Jane Kelly, known as “Ginger,” killed on Friday, November9, 1888.The murder investigations were conducted by the LondonMetropolitan Police (popularly known as “Scotland Yard”).Among the investigators were Chief Inspector FrederickGeorge Abberline and Divisional Inspector John Spratling.During the Ripper murders, the police and newspapersreceived thousands of letters, some from people offering adviceabout catching the killer. Even more interesting were hundredsof letters that claimed to have been written by the killerhimself. Most of these letters are considered hoaxes. Thoughno one was ever arrested for the murders, the killingseventually ceased; no one really knows why.4
Brian—The script I’m creating goes back and forth betweenthe onstage performances of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde andthe backstage story of Richard Mansfield. You and theactors will need to come up with some creative ideas forstaging the play so that the audience can follow both ofthe plot threads without getting lost.—LouisP L O T # 1Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde1. A party at the house of Sir Danvers Carew. Hisdaughter Agnes worries that her fiancé, Henry Jekyll,is working too hard. Dr. Lanyon tells lawyer Uttersonabout a little girl who was beaten up by an evil-lookingman named Edward Hyde. Utterson reveals that Jekyllhas made Hyde the beneficiary of his will.2. Jekyll arrives and argues with Utterson over the will.3. Alone with Agnes, Jekyll tells her that he has gottenhimself into an impossible situation. She promises tostand by him no matter what happens. Jekyll leaves.4. Hyde appears. He tells Sir Danvers that he wantsAgnes and nothing can stop him from having her. SirDanvers attacks Hyde and is brutally murdered.5. Later, outside the door to Jekyll’s laboratory, Uttersonconfronts Hyde. He realizes that it was Hyde whomurdered Sir Danvers.6. Lanyon goes to Jekyll’s house to discuss the murder.He gets angry when Jekyll starts talking about hisexperiments for separating man’s good and evilnatures.7. Agnes tells Jekyll that she saw Hyde kill her father.Jekyll promises to meet her later at the police station.8. Jekyll has sent a note asking Lanyon to bring him somechemicals. When Lanyon arrives, he instead finds Mr.Hyde. As Lanyon looks on, Hyde mixes the chemicals,swallows, them, and is transformed into Dr. Jekyll.9. Some time later, Jekyll again awaits Lanyon. This time,Lanyon could not obtain the chemicals needed toprevent Jekyll from changing into Mr. Hyde. Realizingwhat he must do to be rid of Hyde once and for all,Jekyll sends Lanyon away and then kills himself byswallowing poison.A P L A YMansfield was famous forstepping out of character inthe middle of the performanceand speaking to the audience.Can you imagine an actor doingthat today?In VictorianLondon,opium denswere kind oflike the“crackhouses” thatplague ustoday.In the sceneswherethey’reperformingthe play, let’stry to showtheexaggeratedacting stylethatMansfieldand hiscompanywould haveused.W I T H I NA P L A YPLOT #2Behind the Scenes1. During rehearsals of the play, The Strange Case of Dr.Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, the star, Richard Mansfield, struggleswith nerves. The situation is not helped by Mr. Willis, hisambitious understudy, who is performing the role ofUtterson. The playwright, Russell Sullivan, tries toreassure Mansfield. The stage manager, Bram Stoker,gives Mansfield a packet containing some sort of drug.2. Opening night. Mansfield’s performance departssomewhat from the script, but is well received by theaudience. The actor makes a curtain speech.3. At the cast party, the company reads the newspaperreviews. Stoker notices an article—a report about aprostitute who was brutally murdered the night before.Mansfield meets a friend of Willis named Kate Eddowes.4. In his dressing room, Mansfield recalls his childhood,which he spent traveling with his mother, a famous operasinger. Kate reappears and decides to spend the eveningwith Mansfield instead of Willis.5. Mansfield takes Kate to an opium den in a dangerouslookingneighborhood called Whitechapel.6. At the theater the following night, Mansfield is unwell.During the performance, two inspectors from ScotlandYard—Abberline and Spratling—appear backstage to followup on a letter accusing Mansfield of being Jack the Ripper.7. The next day, Sullivan announces that Prince Albert Victor(“Prince Eddy”) will be attending this evening’s performance.8. In his dressing room, Mansfield finds a blackmail notethreatening to expose him as Jack the Ripper. Frightened,he leaves the theater in the middle of the performance.When Spratling and Abberline discover that their suspecthas disappeared, Sullivan suggests they look for him inWhitechapel.10. While Mansfield hallucinates in an opium den, Abberlineand Spratling go undercover on the streets of Whitechapel.They do not find Mansfield. Meanwhile, at the theater, theplay proceeds with Willis taking over as Jekyll/Hyde.11. Back at the opium den, Kate tries to get Mansfield toreturn to the theater for the command performance.12. At the theater, Abberline tells Sullivan that Mansfield is tobe arrested as the Ripper based on circumstantialevidence. Spratling brings news of yet another murder.13. Kate arrives and provides an alibi for Mansfield, who hassomehow managed to sneak back into the theater andresume his performance. Kate reveals that after his bigtransformation scene, Mansfield plans to announce to theaudience that Prince Eddy is Jack the Ripper. Abberline istold that that he must prevent this from happening.14. Mansfield does make a speech, though not the oneeveryone was expecting. He plays the final scene to its end.5
Page 1 and 2: The Strange Case ofDr. . Jekyll & M
Page 3: From the Desk of: Louis ButelliBria
Page 7 and 8: H O M E W O R KDear Jekyll & Hyde C
Page 9: T OO U RDear Jekyll & Hyde Audience

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