(lower level) Steve Allhoff, Drew Benjamin Jones, Myles Rowland, Valerie Valenzuela, Tom Shamrell; (upper level) Ronnie Misra and Jaime Melendez Photo by Evelyn Huynh

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 is currently offering Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a brisk and pointed stage adaptation of the Jekyll/Hyde story by Jeffrey Hatcher, which debuted in 2008. Though brevity is one of the hallmarks of contemporary theater (oddly, the opposite is happening in movies), the drawback is that sometimes, character development and tension don't have adequate time to percolate. 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.

More significant confusion is caused by the playwright's most pronounced conceit, especially for the attendee who has not been forewarned. Because Jekyll and Hyde are two sides of one individual's persona, they are usually played by one actor, a la the two classic film versions starring Fredric March (1931) and Spencer Tracy (1941). Through the magic of the movies, Jekyll and Hyde are simply made to look radically different in their different psyches in a way not feasible in live performance.

As a solution for the stage, Hatcher specifies that Jekyll and Hyde are not to be acted by the same performer, which even allows both identities to be on stage at the same time. Further, the playwright's stage directions call for four different Hydes, representing his various levels of depravity, though the play is too short to effectively develop these differences. Having multiple actors playing one character takes some getting used to. It is provocative in the end, however, especially when all four Hydes are hounding Jekyll at one time, one of the numerous powerful interactions depicted.

What is more muddling is that each Hyde plays at least two other characters. For instance, Steve Allhoff, who offers the finest acting in the production, plays Hyde 3. In addition, he is Jekyll's gregarious Scottish friend and colleague Dr. Lanyon, but his accents and appearance widely differ in the two roles, so that the device works well in that instance. Other Hydes are not as distinctive in all of their other roles.

Myles Rowland is also effective as Dr. Jekyll, a generally genteel physician, but with a willingness to confront the fallacious. He publicly reproaches his nemesis Sir Danvers over bad science concerning Danvers' analysis from dissecting a cadaver. Regrettably, Jekyll's antipathy toward Danvers leaks over into Hyde's persona.

Although it may be easy to feel sympathy for Jekyll, who suffers unintended consequences for his experimentation, the question remains whether he should be castigated for his hubris. Like many who test limits, he ignores the caution flag and pays the consequences.

For those readers not familiar, SVS's primary venue is out-of-doors, in a beautiful setting nestled among the redwoods in Saratoga's Sanborn County Park, an attraction in addition to the performance. With a seating capacity of under 150, it also offers theatrical intimacy under the stars, plus the opportunity to picnic.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, presented by Silicon Valley Shakespeare, runs through August 30, 2024, at Sanborn County Park, 16055 Sanborn Road, Saratoga CA. For tickets and information, please visit www.svshakespeare.org.