THE ELEPHANT MAN @ ONSTAGE PLAYHOUSE

The Elephant Man: Warming Hearts, Charming Audiences at Onstage Playhouse



Words by Kristen Fogle

John Merrick, the title character of “The Elephant Man,” says it best: People are frightened by what they don’t understand.

So sets the plot behind the historical drama: It is 19th Century England, and John Merrick, horribly deformed since birth, has been relegated to that of sideshow act in a carnival, property (essentially) of Ross, the show manager. Merrick is exposed to three pinheads with whom he is to perform with, mentally retarded women who cannot hold a conversation with him. When Merrick is escorted off the stage by police (his face renders him “indecent”), Ross deems him more trouble than he is worth—robbing Merrick and sending him on the streets. Merrick is taken to bright, ambitious Dr. Fredrick Treves, who is intrigued with Merrick’s condition. So it seems his fate changes. Treves puts Merrick in a wing of a hospital that becomes home, giving him a chance at normalcy by exposing him to affluent Londoners, and a chance to exercise what turns out to be a very brilliant mind.

The tale (based on the true story of Joseph Merrick, the subject of two books published in the 1920s and the main character of the Academy Award winning 1980 film) challenges what is truly beautiful. Though physically wretched in most people’s eyes, Merrick’s search for the good, beautiful, and true makes him the most attractive character in this piece. Treves, though he does help Merrick, also does so in the name of scientific curiosity and makes him the subject of inquiry in lecture halls. The many nurses that come to help Merrick are too sickened by his site to continue, and the boys that serve his meals taunt him. Although he does find kindness—due to a letter printed by Treves’ employer Carr Gomm in The Times, they have found enough money to keep Merrick away from the cruel public eye and at “home.” Mrs. Kendell is one of the friends that Merrick acquaints himself with and keeps, until a questionable act sees her removal. Bishop How helps Merrick develop his spirituality. And Merrick is able to hone his talents, creating truly beautiful work in the form of a quite famous church model.

Originally, the 1977 play by Bernard Pomerance was produced on Broadway, debuting in 1979. The lead role was played by Philip Anglim and later taken by Bruce Davison, David Bowie, and Mark Hamill. At Onstage, Merrick is played by James E. Steinberg; it is interesting to note that neither for this production nor most others is there any prosthetic makeup worn, so it is even more compelling that Steinberg can so effectively convey Merrick in speech and demeanor. Truly excellent also is Brian P. Evans as Carr Gomm, notable for last year’s “Rocky Horror Picture Show” in which he portrayed Frank N Further; he is a talent worth keeping an eye on. Cheryl A. Livingston charms as the quiet but quick minded Mrs. Kendal, and O.P. Hadlock (Dr. Fredrick Treves) had some moments of brilliance, though left me confused in places where he seemed to be searching for lines. Not bad for a first night though, and even the smaller parts were played with gusto; good casting all around with fine direction by Steve Murdock, who also sound designed the show, (and with Chad Oakley) designed the set. (I heard that the floor to ceiling stained glass-reminiscent panels that dominated the set were borrowed from the Old Globe—an impressive touch).


As always, I respect what Onstage does. Its cozy, 62 seat theater (which feels much larger), is the only South Bay playhouse and continues to choose great shows and present high quality work. The space, which is cute as is, is looking to face lift soon—any and all charitable donations toward supporting Onstage are 100% tax deductible as it is a non-profit.


Up next in the space is “Rosencratz and Guildenstern are Dead”—written by Tom Stoppard and directed by Jenna Long—the piece is Hamlet turned comically upside down.


The Elephant Man
Onstage Playhouse
1/13-2/4
291 Third AvenueChula Vista, California
(619) 422-RSVP
www.onstageplayhouse.org

Photos: Andrew Rogers of Silversunbeam Photographic: www.silversunbeamphoto.com