October 10, 2025 • 8 mins
We spoke with Jennifer Levine, Director of External Relations, about the world premiere of Rope, a riveting crime thriller that answers the question, is there such thing as a perfect crime?
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning. Thank you for listening to Community Access. My
guest this morning is Jennifer Levine. She is director of
External Relations at Hartford Stage.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Good morning, Good morning Allison. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Oh it's my pleasure. I love Hartford Stage. There isn't
a bad seat in the house. It's a gem right
there in Hartford. We don't have to go to New
York City or Boston or anywhere. You guys are just wonderful.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
That's exactly right. We always tell people there's no bad
seat in the theater, and we really do mean it.
So I'm glad you said that.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Oh, I just love it there. So Rope is going
to be at Hartford Stage October tenth through November two,
and we're here to talk all about it. So it's
based on the play Rope's end.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yes, this is a really interesting and there's a lot
of nuance to it. So Jeffrey Hatcher, who is a
fantastic playwright. Many of our audiences will remember him because
he also wrote Doctor Jackelin Mister Hide, which you saw
at Hertford Stage last season, and he's done many many
(01:05):
other wonderful plays like dial In for Murder is one
of his more popular ones too. He took the what
is the original play called Ropes and by Patrick Hamilton
and adapted that into this new play called Rope. But
(01:26):
there is also a Hitchcock film called Rope, and that
movie was based on the original play Ropes, And so
it's all related in a really fun, tangled way.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Now, this is a crime thriller, very suspenseful, and we
don't want to give away the entire premise of the show.
But what is the story of Rope for those who
aren't familiar.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Thank you? Yeah, so it is, really it is the
play on is there such thing as a perfect crime
or in this case, the perfect murder? And you will
know right from the very star I'm not getting anything away,
there's a murder. And in the very very first scene
(02:17):
of the play, you know that there is a murder.
So that's not what we're here to find out. We're
here to find out are the people who committed the
murder going to get caught. So the premise of the
play is you've got two young men who have committed
a murder all to see if they can get away
(02:39):
with it, and they well, you'll have to come and
find out.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yeah, so you're going to be on the edge of
your seat the whole time. I love that way. You're
just like, well, i'd have to get up and walk
around if I were at home, you know what I mean,
because I can't take the suspense. But this is well
great because you're you're almost on the stage yourself as
it's happening.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
That's right, that's right, and it is so Two things
I want to say. Not only are you going to
be on the edge of your seat the whole time,
but you're only going to be on the edge of
your seat for ninety minutes with no intermission, so you
can't beat that. And the set is going to be phenomenal.
Our set designer has done a glorious job of designing
(03:25):
this really posh nineteen twenties London flat where this where
this whole play takes place, and it's just beautiful beyond belief.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Oh I believe.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
So this is a play you're going to want to
come see in person.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
I mean, there's a million plays there, but if you've
ever seen a Christmas Carol, it is just the most
beautiful backdrop. So I believe it when you say it's
going to be so Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher is known for
both his thrillers and his humor. Do you find that
the play balances the two or is it more of
a psychological thriller?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I do. I have to tell you I was fortunate
enough to attend two workshops of the early readings of
this script. Because this is a world premiere. This is
the first time this ever, this play is ever being
produced right here in Hartford at Hartford Stage. We commission
Jeffrey to write this adaptation. He's here in rehearsal with us.
(04:22):
He's making changes to the script every single day, and
we're so excited to share it with our audiences. But
get I got to be a part of the workshops
throughout the summer, and when I say I was laughing
out loud, I am not exaggerating. And you don't think
you'll be laughing out loud for a murder mystery, But
(04:44):
there are moments that are just so unbelievable that you
can do nothing but laugh.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Oh my goodness, Tell me about this artistic director that
is going to be directing this.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Of course, So Emelia Bensusan is our artistic direct She's
been with us since twenty nineteen. You have now probably
seen several of the plays she's done here. She also
directed Jeffrey's doctor Jucklin Mister Hyde last season. And she
and Jeffrey have worked together for many, many decades. They've
known each other for a very long time, and they
(05:18):
have a really great language between them and a shorthand,
and they know each other. They know how one another works,
and they know what one another needs. And so the
journey and the end product when the two of them
match up on a project is so fruitful.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
I've that Wow, that is well said, very very beautiful,
like minded. I mean, how could they not create something
so beautiful exactly. It's like a marriage, really good it is.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And actually, if you saw them together you might wonder, Yeah,
So what do you.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Think draws her to his work?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Oh? I mean his work, is it? I guess it
just does exactly that those words are perfect. His work
draws you. You want to know more, you want to
dig deeper. It's like any good mystery writer, really right,
even the great books, the Agatha Christie. You don't want
(06:26):
to put it down. And so it has the same
impact on you, and Jeffrey as a human has the
same impact on you. And I think that that's really
what it boils down to.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
What do you hope people take away with them when
the show is over?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Huh, that's an interesting question. I mean I could get
pretty pretty intellectual about it. There is a lot in
the play to pick apart if you want to, about
society and where we are as humans today and where
we're going. But if I'm being honest, I really want
people to come to Hartford Stage and have a really
(07:03):
great night out at the theater and remember that live
theater is just as entertaining, if not more than what's
on your screen at home.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Absolutely. Oh my goodness, it's my life, my children's life.
I'm always amazed when someone doesn't understand. I love to
go to a show with someone and look at them
and see what their reaction is because I'm like, do
you get how great this is? This is the greatest
even if it stinks, which it doesn't at Hartford Stage.
(07:35):
I still I'm like, are you taking this in? Because
it's an amazing experience and it's live and.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
You're sharing it with all these other audience members too
in real time. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Well, before I wrap this up, Jennifer, is there anything
else I didn't ask you or you'd like to mention.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I don't think so, just to say that Rope is
the first show in our season. It's kicking off for
twenty five twenty six season and really in a powerful way,
and it's not going to stop here. And I hope
that people will come see the show and they'll come
back for another and another, and another and another.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Absolutely don't miss out. It's Hartfordstage dot org. If you'd
like to see Rope, it'll be there October tenth through
November two. Again, I'm speaking with Jennifer Levine, director of
External Relations at Hartford Stage for this show and more
again the website Hartfordstage dot org. Thank you so much
for being here and getting everyone excited for the show.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Thank you so much for having me
Good morning. Thank you for listening to Community Access. My
guest this morning is Jennifer Levine. She is director of
External Relations at Hartford Stage.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
Good morning, Good morning Allison. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
Oh it's my pleasure. I love Hartford Stage. There isn't
a bad seat in the house. It's a gem right
there in Hartford. We don't have to go to New
York City or Boston or anywhere. You guys are just wonderful.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
That's exactly right. We always tell people there's no bad
seat in the theater, and we really do mean it.
So I'm glad you said that.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Oh, I just love it there. So Rope is going
to be at Hartford Stage October tenth through November two,
and we're here to talk all about it. So it's
based on the play Rope's end.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Yes, this is a really interesting and there's a lot
of nuance to it. So Jeffrey Hatcher, who is a
fantastic playwright. Many of our audiences will remember him because
he also wrote Doctor Jackelin Mister Hide, which you saw
at Hertford Stage last season, and he's done many many
(01:05):
other wonderful plays like dial In for Murder is one
of his more popular ones too. He took the what
is the original play called Ropes and by Patrick Hamilton
and adapted that into this new play called Rope. But
(01:26):
there is also a Hitchcock film called Rope, and that
movie was based on the original play Ropes, And so
it's all related in a really fun, tangled way.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
Now, this is a crime thriller, very suspenseful, and we
don't want to give away the entire premise of the show.
But what is the story of Rope for those who
aren't familiar.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Thank you? Yeah, so it is, really it is the
play on is there such thing as a perfect crime
or in this case, the perfect murder? And you will
know right from the very star I'm not getting anything away,
there's a murder. And in the very very first scene
(02:17):
of the play, you know that there is a murder.
So that's not what we're here to find out. We're
here to find out are the people who committed the
murder going to get caught. So the premise of the
play is you've got two young men who have committed
a murder all to see if they can get away
(02:39):
with it, and they well, you'll have to come and
find out.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yeah, so you're going to be on the edge of
your seat the whole time. I love that way. You're
just like, well, i'd have to get up and walk
around if I were at home, you know what I mean,
because I can't take the suspense. But this is well
great because you're you're almost on the stage yourself as
it's happening.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
That's right, that's right, and it is so Two things
I want to say. Not only are you going to
be on the edge of your seat the whole time,
but you're only going to be on the edge of
your seat for ninety minutes with no intermission, so you
can't beat that. And the set is going to be phenomenal.
Our set designer has done a glorious job of designing
(03:25):
this really posh nineteen twenties London flat where this where
this whole play takes place, and it's just beautiful beyond belief.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Oh I believe.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
So this is a play you're going to want to
come see in person.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
I mean, there's a million plays there, but if you've
ever seen a Christmas Carol, it is just the most
beautiful backdrop. So I believe it when you say it's
going to be so Playwright Jeffrey Hatcher is known for
both his thrillers and his humor. Do you find that
the play balances the two or is it more of
a psychological thriller?
Speaker 2 (04:00):
I do. I have to tell you I was fortunate
enough to attend two workshops of the early readings of
this script. Because this is a world premiere. This is
the first time this ever, this play is ever being
produced right here in Hartford at Hartford Stage. We commission
Jeffrey to write this adaptation. He's here in rehearsal with us.
(04:22):
He's making changes to the script every single day, and
we're so excited to share it with our audiences. But
get I got to be a part of the workshops
throughout the summer, and when I say I was laughing
out loud, I am not exaggerating. And you don't think
you'll be laughing out loud for a murder mystery, But
(04:44):
there are moments that are just so unbelievable that you
can do nothing but laugh.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Oh my goodness, Tell me about this artistic director that
is going to be directing this.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Of course, So Emelia Bensusan is our artistic direct She's
been with us since twenty nineteen. You have now probably
seen several of the plays she's done here. She also
directed Jeffrey's doctor Jucklin Mister Hyde last season. And she
and Jeffrey have worked together for many, many decades. They've
known each other for a very long time, and they
(05:18):
have a really great language between them and a shorthand,
and they know each other. They know how one another works,
and they know what one another needs. And so the
journey and the end product when the two of them
match up on a project is so fruitful.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
I've that Wow, that is well said, very very beautiful,
like minded. I mean, how could they not create something
so beautiful exactly. It's like a marriage, really good it is.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And actually, if you saw them together you might wonder, Yeah,
So what do you.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
Think draws her to his work?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Oh? I mean his work, is it? I guess it
just does exactly that those words are perfect. His work
draws you. You want to know more, you want to
dig deeper. It's like any good mystery writer, really right,
even the great books, the Agatha Christie. You don't want
(06:26):
to put it down. And so it has the same
impact on you, and Jeffrey as a human has the
same impact on you. And I think that that's really
what it boils down to.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
What do you hope people take away with them when
the show is over?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Huh, that's an interesting question. I mean I could get
pretty pretty intellectual about it. There is a lot in
the play to pick apart if you want to, about
society and where we are as humans today and where
we're going. But if I'm being honest, I really want
people to come to Hartford Stage and have a really
(07:03):
great night out at the theater and remember that live
theater is just as entertaining, if not more than what's
on your screen at home.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
Absolutely. Oh my goodness, it's my life, my children's life.
I'm always amazed when someone doesn't understand. I love to
go to a show with someone and look at them
and see what their reaction is because I'm like, do
you get how great this is? This is the greatest
even if it stinks, which it doesn't at Hartford Stage.
(07:35):
I still I'm like, are you taking this in? Because
it's an amazing experience and it's live and.
Speaker 2 (07:42):
You're sharing it with all these other audience members too
in real time. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Well, before I wrap this up, Jennifer, is there anything
else I didn't ask you or you'd like to mention.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I don't think so, just to say that Rope is
the first show in our season. It's kicking off for
twenty five twenty six season and really in a powerful way,
and it's not going to stop here. And I hope
that people will come see the show and they'll come
back for another and another, and another and another.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Absolutely don't miss out. It's Hartfordstage dot org. If you'd
like to see Rope, it'll be there October tenth through
November two. Again, I'm speaking with Jennifer Levine, director of
External Relations at Hartford Stage for this show and more
again the website Hartfordstage dot org. Thank you so much
for being here and getting everyone excited for the show.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Thank you so much for having me
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