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Man Ages Backward: A Play's Decade-Long Journey
25 Oct
Summary
- Playwright Jethro Compton adapted 'Benjamin Button' from public domain.
- The musical's development took nearly a decade before its debut.
- The production aims for perfection before global release.
Playwright Jethro Compton was inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" nearly a decade ago. He recognized the 1922 short story's theatrical potential, especially after seeing the 2008 film adaptation. Compton embarked on developing a play based on the man who ages in reverse.
This ambitious project, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," is now making its U.S. debut in an Off-Broadway production at The Public Theater. The show is scheduled to run through December 20. Compton, now 38, emphasized the lengthy development process, stating the team wanted to "get the show right before we send it out around the world."
Initially conceived separately from a folk musical set in a Cornish village, Compton realized the themes of the Fitzgerald story were universal, not exclusively American. This realization allowed for a broader creative scope, with the story beginning in Baltimore but resonating globally. Discussions regarding a potential Broadway transfer are ongoing.
