|
The Elephant Man
The Play as performed by the Stagecoach Playhouse in Dekalb, Illinois Original music composed by Gavin Wilson
Jeff Whelan as John Merrick-- Gavin Wilson as Dr. Frederick Treves Click thumbnails for larger pictures
Holden Wilson, Sound Technician The Elephant Man
Elephant Man Delivers A Powerful Performance
Review by Rob Scharlow
In a theatre that finds itself under a tremendous renovation process, Stage Coach Players presented Bernard Pomerance’s dramatic, yet humorous at times, production of The Elephant Man. With a roomy seating area, a movie theater’s concession stand for snacks, one felt right at home as the story of John Merrick unfolded.
The Elephant Man is set between 1884 - 1890, London and is the story of John Merrick, played by Jeff Whelan, a young man disfigured horrendously from head to toe by what is rumored to have been an accident his mother suffered; being trampled by an elephant. Merrick is released from his sideshow keeper, Ross, played by Bernie Schuneman, once Ross realizes that Merrick’s deformity is putting a halt on Ross’s income. Merrick then ends up on the hands of London Hospital’s eccentric and highly societal figure, Frederick Treves, played by Gavin Wilson. From that point on, Treves wages a battle of self as he comes to question his beliefs. Is he working for science or for his own personal gain in society? Has he put Merrick in a good place, or is it just another upper class freak show?
How does one accomplish the deformity and hideousness of Merrick’s persona in a theatrical piece such as this? Jeff Whelan (Merrick) did an excellent job of conveying the emotional roller coaster of emotions. On top of being be able to deliver a difficult and powerful performance, the actor who portrays Merrick wears no make-up and is forced to contort his body and maneuver the stage for two hours in that fashion, leaving the audience to use their imagination, picturing Merrick and the way he was. Whelan did a fabulous job of body manipulation and muscle control as he limped, slid and shifted across the stage. At times, however, Whelan seemed to miss some of the dramatic elements that create that underlying factor of Merrick.
Gavin Wilson did a fine job of playing the power hungry Frederick Treves, a man who fights the ultimate battle of self-expression and beliefs. Wilson delivered some powerful moments in the play, especially at the end of Act Two when he makes the realization of what he has done and launches into a tremendous monologue about beginning with an excerpt about corsets.
The set, designed by G. Scott Morris, was simple. It consisted of Treves’ office and a landing on the far stage left side. It served its purpose for this particular piece and the actors moved around freely and seemed comfortable.
The lights, designed by Derrick Gibbs, created that old London style feel with some eerie moments and gentle back lighting to certain scenes. There did seem to be a problem with some of the lights “ghosting” throughout the piece however which Stage Coach personnel were aware of and were planning to remedy.
Overall, The Elephant Man delivered a nice variety of drama and humor and left the audience applauding the cast with heart felt enthusiasm. Joseph Carey Merrick (Wickipedia, the Free Encyclopedia) Joseph Merrick, a Who2 Profile |
