Screenland at the Symphony

Screenland at the Symphony:
his year’s Screenland at the Symphony Halloween concert
features John Barrymore — patriarch of one of the great American filmacting dynasties — as the protagonist in the silent-film adaptation of
the Robert Louis Stevenson classic, “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.” The story
itself is one of great intrigue. Dr. Jekyll, criticized for his dispassionate
manner, becomes fascinated with the idea of two personalities residing
within one person. He then embarks on a “scientific” journey not only
to discover this other side of himself, but to give it a life of its own in the
form of an alter ego, Mr. Hyde. Unfortunately, this extreme “evil twin”
becomes dominant, leading inevitably to the good Dr. Jekyll’s demise.
While many have attempted to bring this famous character to life on
screen over the years, it was Barrymore who most genuinely captured the
grotesque spirit of Stevenson’s character. And although he adapted to
“talking pictures” quite well, Barrymore always will be remembered for his
work in silent films and especially the performance you will see tonight. John Barrymore was the son of actors and the brother of Lionel
Barrymore, who many will recognize as “Mr. Potter” in Frank Capra’s “It’s a
Wonderful Life.” His sister, Ethel Barrymore, was considered one of the finest
actresses of her time, and he was the grandfather of modern cinema star, Drew
Barrymore. Barrymore was often referred to as “The Great Profile” due to his
handsome features and incredible popularity. His life — and death — are the
stuff of Hollywood legend. It is rumored that after his passing at the age of
60, Barrymore’s buddies Errol Flynn and director Raoul Walsh commandeered
his corpse and had a final drink with him at Flynn’s home before his funeral.
Regardless of whether you believe the legend, tonight, we have
a rare opportunity to watch a true master of the silent-film era on the
big screen. The music, courtesy of Dorothy Papadakos and the Julia
Irene Kauffman Casavant Organ, will make it once in a lifetime.
— Butch Rigby
26 2015/16 Season
KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY
27