live performance moments

Introduction

• I watched a filmed recording of the live theatre performance of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stephenson Adapted by Nick Lane,

• which was filmed at Wilde Theatre Bracknell recorded on 18th September 2020.

• This adaptation was performed by 4 actors multi-rolling as 16 characters and  it was an Ensemble non naturalistic performance with moments of naturalistic acting.

• The adaptation follows Gabriel Utterson's investigation into the strange behaviour of Mr Hyde, the alter ego of Dr Jekyll who was created after Jekyll begins to experiment on himself. He does this after being told by his peer to stop using animals and humans for his investigation into neuroscience. The play explores themes of the duality of human nature and morality vs science.

Context of moment 1

When Jekyll is showing Eleanor and Lanyon what he has been experimenting on and explaining the process to them. ………. however, then Lanyon gets bitten by the rat.

Moment 1 quotes

• Some

• rats aren’t people

• The, the chloral hydrate

‘Some’ vocal skills

• fast paced

• Uncertain tone

• Low volume

• Low pitch

• RP accent

‘Some’ physical skills

• embarrasses facial expression, slightly furrowed brows and small frown

• Gripping box tightly

• Wandering eyes indicates guilt

‘Rats arent people’ vocal skills

• slow paced

• Aggressive and assertive tone

• Medium - high volume

• RP accent

• Emphasis on ‘rats’ and ‘people’

‘Rats aren’t people’ physical skills

• frustrated facial expression (turned down mouth scrunched eyebrows)

• Uses hands to indicate two separate ideas, palms face in two blocks

• Looking at box but then makes eye contact with lanyon on people

‘The, the chloral hydrate’ vocal skills

• fast pace

• Excited tone

• Medium - high volume

• Irish accent

• Emphasis and slow down on chloral hydrate

‘The, the chloral hydrate’ physical skills

• focused facial expression in beginning , eyebrows furrowed. Then happy when watching Jekyll, wide smile and high eyebrows

• Points at test tube as she reading it

• Moves with small but fast gait towards Jekyll

• Eye focus originally on tube as she reads it, then looks at Jekyll with pride, then back at box with curiosity

• Walks with test tube, holding with one hand and reading with the other. Carefully removes pipette and drops a few drops into the bowl that Jekyll is holding. Then gently places down on table

Moment 1 directors quotes

• scare the audience

• Research vs morality

Moment 2 context

Eleanor and Jekyll have visited Utterson's sister in a mental institute to observe and run some tests, however Jekyll’s suggestion to try his formula was denied. Then, they are standing outside having a conversation.

Moment 2 quotes

• do you need to rest?

• With the right man

• Perhaps in time he might..

‘Do you need to rest?’ Vocal Skills

• slow pace

• Thoughtful tone

• Low volume

• Medium - high pitch

• Pause before she moves

• Irish accent

‘Do you need to rest?’ Physical Skills

• concerned facial expression, eyebrows slightly down and a slight frown

• Rubbing hands together

• Takes one large step towards Jekyll and carefully holds his arm with both hands

• Looks at him whilst thinking about it, then at floor and out to audience whilst and after

'With the right man’ vocal skills

• medium pace

• Anxious tone

• Low volume

• Medium pitch, wobbles whilst saying it

• Large pause between two parts of line

• Irish accent

‘With the right man’ physical skills

• small smile before line chin drops when she begins to an upset frown

• Rubs up and down Jekylls arm

• Eye focus out into audience

‘Perhaps in time he might’ vocal skills

• fast pace

• Uncertain tone Low volume

• Low volume

• Low pitch

• Stutters on parts of line

• RP accent

‘Perhaps in time he might’ physical skills

• concerned facial expression, turned down mouth and furrowed brows

• Looking out into audience

• After a beat they unlink

Moment 2 directors quote

• deeply entrenched in the class system

Moment 3 context

Lanyon has discovered that Jekyll has been testing on animals, this leads to them having a large argument.

Moment 3 quotes

• ‘by killing people’

• Those people were already dead, i took them from a plague ship, gave them food, medicine a warm bed. I brought them back to life’

• ‘You do not get to decide who lives or dies you are not god’

‘By killing people’ vocal skills

• fast paced

• Aggressive tone

• Very high volume

• Medium - low pitch

• Emphasis on people

• RP accent

‘By killing people’ physical skills

• angry facial expression, mouth turned down and eyebrows furrowed

• Takes a small gaited step towards Jekyll

• Eye focus completely on Jekyll

‘Those people were already dead, i took them from a plague ship and gave them food, medicine, a warm bed. I brought them back to life’ vocal skills

• very fast paced on first clause, then slows down

• Defensive tone

• High volume at first, then lowers it

• Emphasis on second I

• RP accent

‘You do not get to decide who lives or dies you are not god’ vocal skills

• medium paced

• Dismissive tone

• Medium volume

• Medium - low pitch

• RP accent

You do not get to decide who lives or dies you are not god’ physical skills

• Before the line he has a fairly neutral facial expression. However, he then scrunches it up and shakes head

• He shakes his head and reaches for it. Then points finger up

• Eye focus out into audience

Moment 3 directions quote

‘In order to give a scale of morality’ ’ 'research vs morality’