The Elephant Man

The Elephant Man is a 1979 play by Bernard Pomerance. The production's Broadway debut was produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent, and directed by Jack Hofsiss.

The story is based on the life of Joseph Merrick who lived in the Victorian era and is known for the extreme deformity of his body. The lead role was originally played by Philip Anglim and later taken by Bruce Davison, David Bowie and Mark Hamill.

The play was notable for the fact that no prosthetic makeup was used on the actor portraying Merrick.

Plot synopsis

The Elephant Man opens with Frederick Treves, an up-and-coming surgeon, meeting his new employer Carr Gomm, the administrator of the London Hospital.

Ross, the manager of a freak show invites a crowd on Whitechapel Road to come view John Merrick, the Elephant Man. Treves happens upon the freak show and is intrigued by Merrick's disorder. He insists that he must study Merrick further; Ross agrees, for a fee. Treves then gives a lecture on Merrick's anatomy, making Merrick stand on display while Treves describes his condition to the audience.

The freak show travels to Brussels after being driven out of London by the police. Merrick tries to converse with three freak show "pinheads," or people suffering from microcephaly and mental retardation. The "pinheads" go onstage to sing "We Are the Queens of the Congo," but the police will not allow Merrick to perform, because they consider his condition "indecent." Ross decides that Merrick is more trouble than he's worth, steals Merrick's savings, and sends him back to London.

When Merrick arrives in London, his appearance incites a crowd to riot. The train's conductor and a policeman are able to fetch Treves to calm the situation. Treves takes Merrick to the London Hospital and interviews a woman, Nurse Sandwich, for the position of Merrick's caretaker. Sandwich assures Treves that she has cared for lepers in Africa and is quite prepared for anything. However, when she sees Merrick taking a bath, she bolts from the room and refuses to take the job.

Bishop How visits Merrick and declares him a "true Christian in the rough." He tells Treves he would like to educate Merrick in religion. Carr Gomm argues with How about the importance of science versus the importance of religion. Gomm announces that, due to a letter he had printed in The Times, the people of London have donated enough money to allow Merrick to live at the hospital for life. Treves tells Gomm that he is glad Merrick now has a place where he can stay without being stared at, and is determined that Merrick should lead a normal life.

When two attendants, Will and Snork, are caught peeking into Merrick's room, Will is fired and Snork is given a severe warning. Treves believes that it is important to enforce these rules, but Merrick worries what will happen to Will and his family. Merrick grew up in the workhouses, and wishes that no one had to suffer that fate. Treves says that it's just the way things are.

Treves hires Mrs. Kendal, an actress, to converse with Merrick. He feels that it is important for Merrick to meet women, and that Mrs. Kendal can use her acting skills to hide any revulsion that she might feel. While looking at photographs of Merrick, Mrs. Kendal asks about his penis, which is undeformed. Treves nervously explains that Merrick has a bone disorder, meaning that his penis--which contains no bone--is not afflicted. Mrs. Kendal notes that if Treves is embarrassed so easily then Merrick must be very lonely indeed.

Whe Mrs. Kendal meets Merrick, she requires all of her self-control in order to disguise her horror at Merrick’s appearance. After several minutes of strained conversation. Mrs. Kendal mentions Romeo and Juliet. Merrick amazes Mrs. Kendal with his thoughtful and sensitive views on Romeo and the nature of love. Mrs. Kendal says that she will bring some of her friends to meet Merrick, then shakes his hand and tells him how truly pleased she is to meet him. Merrick dissolves into tears as Treves tells Mrs. Kendal that it is the first time a woman has ever shaken his hand.

Mrs. Kendal's high society friends visit Merrick and bring him gifts while he builds a model of St. Phillip's church, having to work with his one good hand. He tells Mrs. Kendal that St. Phillip’s church is an imitation of grace, and his model is therefore an imitation of an imitation. When Treves comments that all of humanity is a mere illusion of heaven, Merrick says that God should have used both hands. Merrick's new friends--Bishop How, Gomm, the Duchess, Princess Alexandra, Treves, and Mrs. Kendal--all comment upon how, in different ways, they see themselves reflected in him. However, Treves notes that Merrick’s condition is worsening with time.

Merrick tells Mrs. Kendal that he needs a mistress, and suggests that he would like her to do that for him. Mrs. Kendal listens compassionately and tell Merrick that him ever having a mistress is unlikely. Merrick admits that he has never even seen a naked woman. Mrs. Kendal is flattered by his show of trust in her, and realizes that she has come to trust him. She undresses and allows him to see her naked body. Treves enters and is shocked. He sends Mrs. Kendal away.

Ross comes to the hospital to ask Merrick to rejoin the freak show. Ross's health has drastically worsened, and he tells Merrick that without help he is doomed to pain and death. He tries to convince Merrick to charge the society members who visit him. Merrick refuses to help Ross, telling him that after robbing and abandoning him he’s had enough. Ross makes one final pathetic plea to Merrick, who refuses him, saying that's just the way things are.

Merrick asks Treves what he believes about God and heaven. Then he confronts Treves, criticizing what he did to Mrs. Kendal and the rigid standards by which he judges everybody. Treves realizes that he has been too harsh with Merrick and tells him that although he will write to Mrs. Kendal, he does not believe she will return. After Merrick leaves the room, Treves says that it is because he doesn’t want her to see Merrick die.

Treves has a nightmare that he has been put on display while Merrick delivers a lecture about his terrifying normality, his rigidity, and the acts of cruelty he can commit upon others for their own good.

Gomm and Treves discuss Merrick’s impending death. Treves displays frustration at the fact that the more normal Merrick pretends to be, the worse his condition becomes. He confronts Bishop How, telling him that he believes Merrick’s faith is merely another attempt to emulate others. It comes out that the real source of his frustrations is the chaos of the world around him, with his patients seemingly doing everything they can to shorten their own lives. No matter how hard he tries he cannot help them, just as he cannot help Merrick. He finally begs for the Bishop to help him.

Merrick finishes his model of the church. He goes to sleep sitting up, a posture posture which he must adopt due to the weight of his head. As he sleeps he sees visions of the pinheads, now singing that they are the Queens of the Cosmos. They lay him down to sleep normally and he dies. Snork discovers his body and runs out screaming that the Elephant Man is dead.

In the final scene, Gomm reads a letter he has written to The Times, outlining Merrick’s stay at the hospital, his death and his plans for the remaining funds donated for Merrick’s care. When he asks Treves if he has anything else to add, a distressed Treves says he does not and leaves. As Gomm finishes the letter Treves rushes back in, saying that he’s thought of something. Gomm tells the doctor that it is too late: it is done.

Mark Hamill

When Mark Hamill was cast as the elephant man, he won much acclaim for his portrayal. However at the time he was closely associated with the role of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars. The marketing department grabbed onto this. In their poster is a picture of Mark Hamill's face in front of space with Star Wars style lettering about who he is. Only in the of corner does the poster actually mention "The Elephant Man".

2002 revival

A revival of the production was staged at the Royale Theatre on Broadway in April 2002, running for 57 shows, and closed on 2 June 2002. It was directed by Sean Mathias and starred Billy Crudup and Kate Burton. Both received Tony Award nominations.

Television adaptation

An adaptation for television by Steve Lawson was released and broadcast on ABC. Also directed by Hofsiss, actress Penny Fuller received an Emmy Award for her performance as Mrs. Kendal.

Film adaptation

In 1980, a film directed by David Lynch based on the play was released, also entitled The Elephant Man.

Awards and nominations

Awards

• 1979 Drama Desk Award Outstanding New Play
• 1979 Tony Award for Best Play
• 1979 Selection, The Burns Mantle Theater Yearbook, The Best Plays of 1978-1979^[1]
• 1979 New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play

References

1. ^ Guernsey Jr. (Ed.), Otis L. (1979). The Best Plays of 1978-1979. New York & Toronto: Dodd, Mead & Company. pp. 201-215. ISBN 0-396-07723-4. 

• Steve Edelson (2002-02-18). "David Bowie in The Elephant Man". http://www.up-to-date.com/bowie/elephantman. Retrieved 2008-06-19. 

External links

• The Elephant Man at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Elephant Man at the Internet off-Broadway Database
• The Elephant Man (2000 revival) at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Elephant Man (TV Film) at the Internet Movie Database
• The Elephant Man (Theatrical film directed by David Lynch) at the Internet Movie Database