Group Activities

The Great Debate: One Man or Two?

Was the character of Hyde just a mask for Jekyll to do all the things he’s always wanted to do , or was he really two people and his misfortune was in letting his other half out?

NEWCOMEN: In my opinion, there never was an Edward Hyde. That name was merely used by Dr. Jekyll to cloak his shameful nighttime deeds. To imagine otherwise—to accept the notion that two entirely different creatures, one good, one evil, lived within the same body—is to enter permanently into a nightmare.

RACHEL: You could be wrong. Henry may have been a victim of Edward Hyde’s brutality just as my brother was. In the notebook, what was it Henry wrote? “Man, at the most fundamental level, is not one, but two.

POOLE: And, if you let the other thing out, like the doctor did, then there’s no help in heaven for you.

Create two teams to argue these points—Newcomen vs. Rachel and Poole. You can use a courtroom setting including these characters, a judge, lawyers, witnesses, etc. Be creative and have fun, but make sure you use examples from the play or novel to support your arguments.

Clash of the Characters

The list of characters in the novel has many differences, as well as similarities, with that of the cast of the play.

Assign each group member a different character. The goal of this activity is for each participant to defend the validity of their character’s presence in the story—they must prove why they are integral to the telling of this tale. When the characters are the same in both versions, the participant must explain the differences between the versions, and then prove why their depiction is the better choice. At the end of all defenses, the group can vote to determine which characters are truly essential.

Make a Movie

The are many versions of the story of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde including the recent films: Mary Reilly, The Nutty Professor, and Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde. Jekyll & Hyde have also appeared with Betty Boop, Daffy Duck, Tweety Bird & Sylvester, Tom & Jerry, Bugs Bunny, Mighty Mouse, Pinky & the Brain, Porky Pig, Mickey Mouse, and Wishbone. This story has really made it’s rounds, but it’s also amazing how many transformations (pun intended) it has undergone.

Here is you chance to tell the story the way you would want to see it done. You have just been commissioned to produce the latest version of Jekyll & Hyde, and you can do whatever you want with it! However, here are some things to think about during the process:

What is your time period?


What characters will you use; and who will you cast in the roles?

What genre of film will it be?

Who is your target audience?

What kinds of special affects will you utilize?

Where will the story be set?

What will the film be rated?

What is your budget?

How closely will you follow the novel?


How will your adaptation be different from all of the rest?

Will you make Robert Louis Stevenson feel proud, or roll over in his grave?

Put together a proposal to try to sell your idea to the studio of your choice.
And ACTION!!!

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