DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE 6/3/96

(a one-act by Bob Zolnerzak)

 

11:45AM: Watching Barrymore's 1920 version (reluctantly watching a tape Spartacus didn't even ask me if I wanted), I get multi-layered ideas that I MUST set down before I forget all the (rafamications, I started) ramifications:
1) He says he wants TWO bodies, but gets two PERSONALITIES in only ONE body. But if he had TWO bodies, he could have SEX with himself and DIE more than once!
2) I think of making it a musical, but haven't there been announcements that MANY people are working on this, including Andrew Lloyd Webber?
3) Remove a level: think of a sketch with a writer interviewing an actor who's going to play the double part, and they talk about the script (which I then don't have to write) from the point of view of the IDEAS therein, rather than having to go through the trouble of writing the script ITSELF.
4) But if it's made into a "clone" play, Dr. Jekyll (and don't forget my OTHER idea: MR. Jekyll and DR. Hyde, implying that the DOCTOR is the evil one) could make DOZENS of Hydes, EACH of which could live a full evil life and die while the CORE creature continues to live. Difficulties of presentation could be discussed between the writer and actor. Actor could have been given different VERSIONS of the play to help the writer decide which track to complete for actual staging.
5) Actor feels writer is writing about HIMSELF, with possibility that stage-lights turn RED when HYDE is out, WHITE for Jekyll only, again only DESCRIBED in stage directions or TALKED about to obviate the need for DOING it onstage.
6) Writer tries to SEDUCE actor, tells him to take shirt off, cock-teases, etc.