Robert Louis Stevenson’s Victorian novella “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” has proven successful grist for over 120 movie and endless stage adaptations.  Its popularity owes in part to the most prevalent and popular genres it draws from – mystery, horror, and period piece.  But his narrative explores greater depths – the contrary and often conflicting characteristics within each human being.

Unlike those who would see the world in black and white, Stevenson saw that each person has goodness as well as the potential for bad.  But the author takes these tendencies a step further and offers an early literary example of schizophrenia, a split personality in which one identity may not know that another exists or be aware of what kind of life the other leads.  In this case, Dr. Jekyll’s experiments have produced a potion and an antidote to entering the realm of an alternate persona, but with regrettable consequences.

Silicon Valley Shakespeare offers a brisk and pointed stage adaptation of the Jekyll/Hyde story by Jeffrey Hatcher which debuted in 2004.  Although this drama is slow in developing and doesn’t always build momentum, it contains many moments of great tension and cascades to a powerful conclusion. The Alika Spencer directed SVS production is on-the-money for the most part, with effective acting in key roles.  While the single multipurpose set occasions some clumsy movement of characters and uncertainty as to place, the thoughtful sound design embellishes the atmosphere.

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“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” is written by Jeffrey Hatcher based on a novella by Robert Louis Stevenson, is produced by Silicon Valley Shakespeare, and plays at Sanborn County Park, 16055 Sanborn Road, Saratoga, CA through August 30, 2024.  Tickets and further information are available at https://www.svshakespeare.org or info@svshakespeare.org .