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After LA Theater Works, The Confession of Henry Jekyll, MD, Adapted by David Rambo Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic horror novel, “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde will run from April 14th to April 16th. Seamus Dever directed by Anna Reese Erickson. David managed to spare time between so many producing/writing gigs to answer some of my questions.
Thank you for taking the time to interview me again.
It’s always fun, Gil!
Last time at LATW in 2017, LATW asked me to create a tug of war. Is this current work The Confession of Henry Jekyll, MD also commissioned or pitched to LATW?
Susan Loewenberg asked me if there are any properties that I would like LATW to adapt. We looked at a few ideas, and when she had the idea to make a modern Jekyll and Hyde, we knew that was the idea.
What version of Dr. Jekyll have you seen?
There are only two versions, one starring Fredric March and one with Spencer Tracy.
When was the first time you read a Robert Louis Stevenson novel? Homework in high school? Read Just Guilt?
I’m embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t read it until LATW contacted me. Frankly, it was a revelation. Stevenson’s writing is surprisingly vivid, telling stories from multiple perspectives and literary forms that must have surprised Victorian readers.
When did Henry Jekyll’s gestational period start?
This happened quickly. By Thanksgiving, NBC’s Dolly was busy in post-production for Parton’s Christmas movie. In the first week of January she read the novel and started writing the play about a week later. It went surprisingly fast. As usual, she had multiple drafts before she was confident enough to share with Susan.
What era is your Henry Jekyll set in? Originally in the 1880s? Or update?
New York City today.
Which specific incident in the life of Dr. Jekyll are you referring to?
The most important case is his friendship with Nick, a lawyer. The character is an important element of the novel, but the role is faded in most of the film versions. I extend it with my version. Henry and Nick have been friends since boarding school. They fall in love with the same woman (Henry won) and share important events in their lives. But Henry has a secret life that even Nick feels he can’t share with anyone, and it’s this secret that causes the friendship to burst and leads to the play’s climax.
Other than Susan Loewenberg and her LATW crew, have you worked with Henry Jekyll’s cast and creatives?
It will be directed by Susan’s longtime producer Anna Rhys Erickson, and I’m thrilled to have my longtime friend and frequent collaborator Seamus Dever in the lead role. we met in CSI An episode I wrote a few years ago as a Simon Cowell-type TV host.
I asked you before about adjusting scripts to run with sound for LATW productions. Does Henry Jekyll need a lot of tweaking to make it a serious stage production?
Not so much. I would like you to see it on the full stage.
You’re a household name on the TV screen, but I’d like to ask you about your credits in theaters. I will name your play.
of course!
Your First Play – Texas God Man:
Three years of writing that gave me the next 25 years of my life.
The Lady With All Answers @ The Old Globe w/Randy Graff:
I have always loved theater and working with Randy and director Tom Moore was a dream come true.
The Lady With All Answers @ The Cherry Lane w/Judith Ivey:
Judy was sublime!
Icebreaker:
Little did I know, 17 years after the premiere, that climate change is moving faster than predicted at the time.
Sunset Boulevard @ Hollywood Bowl:
Goosebumps. Betty Buckley, Douglas Sills, Len Cariou, John Mauceri, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra!
Actors Fund All About Eve:
The most thrilling performance experience of my life, thanks to Gordon Davidson and his cast performing Joe Mankiewicz’s still-shining script.
LATW’s Adam’s Rib:
It was my first time working with Anne Heche and it was a fitting successor to Katharine Hepburn.
LATW tug of war:
I can’t wait to see the work fully performed. It’s a nail biting story and more relevant than ever.
Babbitt:
Oh, it’s so much fun. It was created for the drama school at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the school.
Paint the wagon:
I cherish the memories of working on this with Gil Cates for the Geffen Playhouse. He was a mentor, a champion, a father figure and a friend.
You are on the funding committee for the Hollywood Arts Collective, a 151 unit affordable housing for artists in the heart of Hollywood. how is that going?
beautifully! There are applications from prospective tenants, and it seems that moving in will start in a few months. Fundraising is ongoing.
Last time we talked, you said you wanted to see LATW produce your The Ice-Breaker. What’s the status on it?
It is unlikely. The science in the play is now obsolete. As I mentioned above, none of the climatologists I consulted with while writing the play would have thought it would happen.
What’s next for David Rambo’s plate?
We have some super secret TV projects that are not yet openly announced. soon! Check in at davidrambo.com or follow @Rambopolitan on Instagram. The rock star and theater composer has also written an original musical with The Knack’s Berton Averre.
Thank you David! I look forward to hearing your Henry Jekyll.
See you there.
Tickets for one of Henry Jekyll’s four live performances (Recorded live for future radio broadcasts, digital downloads and online streaming) From April 14th to 16th, click the button below.
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