"Jekyll and Hyde" at Central Works

Central Works is a really small theater company that performs new plays (original works, world premieres) in a 50-seat theater inside the beautiful Berkeley City Club. I've seen several of their plays over the last couple of years, and have been impressed enough to subscribe. On one hand, it's pretty inexpensive, something like $30 per show. On the other hand, it's kind of a "pig in a poke" situation: You don't know what the plays will be like when you subscribe, since they aren't done yet.

I'll take those chances.

And just to reiterate the truism I frequently cite, that theater is a very small town, the production sponsor for this play, Ted McClellan, was a year ahead of me at the same high school, and now  serves on the board of Central Works.

Quick Summary

Tonight's offering was "Jekyll and Hyde," a play by Gary Graves inspired by a story told about Robert Louis Stevenson and the writing of "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." It's a pretty interesting mashup, featuring Brian Herndon as Louis (Stevenson) and Danielle Levin as his wife, Fanny.

Louis is trying to write. He hasn't produced much lately, so there are financial pressures, but he's too proud to ask his father for money, despite Fanny's urging. His last several attempts at stories have  gone up in smoke, unfinished.

The bulk of the play involves an ailing Louis trying to explain to Fanny this new story he's writing, about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, all the while slipping in and out of the characters, while Fanny recognizes aspects of Louis' real life and character in the story. So it's pretty intricately woven.

The whole show takes place in one room, in one act, in about an hour and a half.

More Detail

Since it's been a theme for me this week, I should say that I found Herndon's accents quite credible. His Louis has a recognizable and consistent Scottish brogue, but it's fully intelligible. Jekyll speaks proper British English, while Hyde has a lower-class accent. All well delineated and consistent. To complete the set, Fanny is American.

The play does a nice job of weaving the frame story of Louis and Fanny in with the conception and telling of the Jekyll and Hyde story, with Fanny serving as our agent to interpret story elements against details of Louis' own character, relationship with his father, etc. I'd say that holds up about 75-80 percent of the way through.

Unfortunately, about the time we come to the realization that Louis doesn't have an end for his story yet, it also starts to unravel the play as well. The play meanders a bit trying to come in for a satisfying end, and frankly, I was a little confused by the way it concluded. But it held my interest and kept me thinking.

More Chances

Central Works has announced a one-week extension of the play, so it closes on June 19 (fun for Father's Day!). I'd say it's well worth spending an evening.