In 1977 Bernard Pomerance’s The Elephant Man premiered at the Hampstead Theatre in London, November 7th, 1977. It hit Broadway in 1979, where it took Tonys For Best Play, Best Direction, and Best Performance by a Leading Actress. Not to mention the list of nominations. I’ve become skeptical enough to doubt that every award is proof of quality. But in the case of The Elephant Man, with it’s simple, elegant, poetic script, I’m not surprised that it should enjoy such success.
Merrick’s deformity was phenomenal in the worst sense. It terrified those who encountered him, or elicited visceral repulsion. Not until Dr. Frederick Treves discovered him in a sideshow with other “misfits”, did Merrick find an advocate who would provide for him the rest of his life. As we might imagine, Merrick was so pummeled by abuse and revulsion that his keen, sentient mind, his gentle and capacious heart, his utter lack of self-pity was concealed.
Treves placed him in the hospital (where he practiced) and Merrick was restored to health. There his remarkable qualities as a human being could emerge and flourish. Once Merrick is settled in, he captures the heart of Mrs. Kendall, an actress and friend of Treves. Her friends are the cream of London Society and shower him with affection. A distinction is made between the working class and the genteel, educated, wealthy class that can afford to be moral. A nod perhaps to Pygmalion and The Threepenny Opera.
Bernard Pomerance took the agonizing, intensely sad story of Joseph Merrick, who lived in the Victorian Era, and made it accessible, without manipulating the audience. In the arts such a feat is nearly impossible. Consider Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret, Euripides’ Medea, Spielberg’s Schindler’s List. To explore such content: filicide, anti-semitism, genocide, atrocities, murder; without exploiting our emotions, requires meticulous, masterful attention. Imagine tossing a bomb in the audience without causing havoc.
Merrick’s story is fraught with painful evidence of mankind’s propensity for bestial, unconscionable savagery. Pomerance takes this pathos and plays it down. The way the script is written, we see a photograph of Merrick once, at the beginning of the play. The rest is suggested by the actor playing Merrick, who hobbles, and speaks with deliberation. To do more, is to amplify what already is monstrous and egregious. The trick is to get us past Merrick’s appearance, to the essence of being and humanity. Not to ignore his unimaginable suffering, but grasp that it doesn’t define him.
Theatre 3’s production of The Elephant Man is deeply moving. Director Jeffrey Schmidt’s set is vivid and evocative. The shrink wrap that festoons the sparse, nearly skeletal set, suggests a web and the question of transparency. The actors cultivate the tone so crucial to Pomerance’s canny, cogent, lyrical script. There is something surreal, but tangible and immediate about this show, and the cast is equal to the task. Cindee Mayfield is forceful and pragmatic as Gomm. Taylor Harris expresses the frustration and empathy of Dr. Frederick Treves. Karen Raehpour captures the flamboyant, effusive Mrs. Kendall. Shawn Gann swings between opportunism and piety playing Ross and Bishop How. Rarely do we see such a versatile collection of actors, cast in multiple roles. (Does Equity know about this?)
Drew Wall as John Merrick (aka The Elephant Man) navigates the role of a soul tortured and ostracized, but continues to trust the rationality, tolerance, and altruism, in spite of it all. There have been different interpretations (of course) of Merrick’s body language in different productions. Mr. Wall is called upon to gnarl his back and limbs, twisting his mouth. It’s as if Tiny Tim or Amahl with their waif-like mien, had grown up, shaped by mankind’s contempt. It is apparent that Mr. Wall is utterly dedicated to his craft in what must be an emotionally and physically exhausting performance.
Theatre 3 presents The Elephant Man, playing January 19th-February 19th, 2023. 2688 Laclede # 120, Dallas, Texas 75201. 214-871-3300. www.theatre3dallas.com. It is emphatically recommended to check with the box office, due to inclement weather.