THE ELEPHANT MAN
The Elephant Man
The tragic tale of John Merrick, born with extreme physical deformities, has become a familiar one thanks to David Lynch’s classic 1980 version and David Bowie’s performance in the lead role on the Broadway stage from around the same time. Whilst obviously a more low-key offering this production from Fringe Management and Canny Creatures is no less affecting with strong, touching performances which capture the essence of the tale.
It is a beautifully paced adaptation which is perfect if you are looking for a late lunchtime/early afternoon show to see. It captures in an extremely concise manner how Merrick went from being a prize exhibit in a travelling freak show to being the toast of Victorian London society-itself something of freak show in itself- even winning admiration from royalty due to the patronage of a star of London stage and theatres, Mrs. Kendal.
Great performances all round especially from Michael Roy Andrew as Merrick who uses his body to capture the sinuous awkwardness and deformities of Merrick rather than relying on the grotesquery of make up or prosthetics. My one concern is that all five female roles were played by Kirsty Eila McIntyre when each male character had a different actor assigned. Not that McIntyre was less than capable in each of her roles-she actually excelled- but in some ways it spoke to me of women being interchangeable and indistinguishable from each other. Of course I could be wrong and it was all down to a matter of economics and practicality.
Definitely a show worth seeing and even if it doesn’t add anything to its more famous interpretation be glad at least that it certainly doesn’t detract from them either.
****
The Elephant Man is on at the Gilded Balloon until August 28th at 13.15 daily
