The Original Play

The screenplay, written by Stuart Voytilla and Mark Redfield, is based on their stage adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's novella The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

The play was produced by Redfield's company New Century Theater in the fall of 1991 to rave critical reviews.

This is what some of the critics in the Baltimore/Washington area had to say:

"This excellent new adaptation by the show's producer, director and star, Mark Redfield, in collaboration with Stuart Voytilla... is the best of it's kind this reviewer has ever seen. Redfield's direction is masterful - practically flawless. (Redfield) plays both roles. As the upright, uptight, gentle Jekyll and the horrifying Hyde crouching apelike and wild-eyed around the stage, he is magnificent. A consummate professional artist, Redfield's attention to the finer details of his character is matchless." Winifred Walsh, The Sun Thursday, October 10, 1991 "From the ingenious brains of Mark Redfield and Stuart Voytilla... I'll remember how New Century Theater applied the devices of contemporary theater to the sensationalism of 19th Century drama, complete with crash boxes, chase sequences and knife fights. If you want a good scare for Halloween, go enter into the blood-and-thunder spirit of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde." Pamela Purdy, The City Paper Wednesday, October 9 1991		Jekyll in the New Century Theater Production -1991
Hyde in the New Century Theater Production -1991	"...the success of this production can be attributed to Mark Redfield, who dons quite a few hats for this show. Not only did he help adapt the novel for the stage presentation, he plays director, producer and scene designer. If that weren't enough, Redfield turns in a truly stunning performance for the double role of Jekyll and Hyde. It seems Baltimore has its own Kenneth Branagh lurking in the wings..." Emily Seay The Greyhound, October 1991 "This ambitions version - scripted by Mark Redfield and Stuart Voytilla - accentuates the melodrama of Stevenson's horror story. But it's not just the script that keeps the intrigue mounting. It's the creepy productions directed by Mark Redfield, who also starts in the title roles. It must be acknowledged that no matter how familiar you are with this much-produced tale, you'll feel a chill at the end." J. Wynn Rousuck, The Sun Friday, 11 October 1991

The writing collaboration between Voytilla and Redfield continued, as they wrote several screenplays and a novel together over the next few years.

A film adaptation of The Tell-Tale Heart fell through when financing evaporated, and Redfield produced and acted in Tom Brandau's Cold Harbor. As Cold Harbor went into post-production, another property was sought for feature film production.

After Redfield produced and directed the premiere of Daniel Mark Epstein's play, The Leading Lady, he founded Redfield Arts and discussed with Voytilla the various properties that they owned for consideration for production. Jekyll and Hyde felt right, and so they went to work adapting their own play material (which, as originally written for the stage, was extremely "cinematic" in it's structure) into a script for the screen.