The Elephant Man
Sun, 11 May 2003, 11:08 amWalter Plinge7 posts in thread
The Elephant Man
Sun, 11 May 2003, 11:08 amCome on, you guys! Support your local co-ops! We went to see The Elephant Man last night (at the Rechabites Hall, 224 William St, Northbridge) and it was a damn good show - but the audience numbers are right down - so much so, they have had to cancel at least two performances so far. Why?? Is everyone scared of catching SARS or something??
We NEED people like Shirley and David in this town who actually get off their butts to put on great plays - at their own financial expense - because, let's face it, there wouldn't be too much to see if we only wait for the fully professional stuff.
There just isn't enough paid work for every professional out there - so co-ops are the only way for some of us to keep our skills polished and earn a little bit of money as well. So, PLEASE support them.
Anyway, enough ranting. I think The Elephant Man is on for another week - so there's still time to catch some great performances from a very able cast. Vivienne Glance's portrayal of "Mrs Kendall" was a definite highlight for me - a very brave and sensitive performance. She had a magnificant stage presence and was perfectly cast for the role.
In fact, the whole cast was at a very high standard, as were the costumes. Congratulations to David Meadow for his direction and to Shirley and the cast for those LIGHTENING costume changes - how DID they do it??
And if that's not enough to encourage you to go - I will be really crass and mention there is also full-frontal nudity (done very bravely and appropriately).
Thou errant tardy-gaited flirt-gill!
Re: The Elephant Man
Mon, 12 May 2003, 08:32 amWalter Plinge
What; The Elephant Man
Who; Naked Emotion Ensemble
Where; Rechabites, Northbridge (WA for all youse interstaters)
When; Saturday 10 May 2003
(First of all, apologies for calling members of the cast "actor lady" and"that doctor guy" and things like that. I didn't pick up a program 'cause I'm an idiot.)
I always thought that if David Meadows was going to direct a play that would break my heart, he would (directorially) rip it still beating from my chest and show it to me, before stomping it under heel, spitting on it and striding away with his black cloak billowing, laughing maniacly. I had no idea he was capable of breaking my heart by degrees, bit by bit, with subtlety and sensitivity. But he did it with The Elephant Man. Almost.
The staging was as it should be, exposed and bare, with nowhere on stage to hide and no room for pretense. At some points however I was a little confused as to where rooms ended and began and if all characters on stage where privy to conversations happening between other characters. The costuming was excellent, mood (and time) setting, without imposing too much on the action. The lighting played a large part, to some small extent being another character in the play, and I loved the changing backdrops and projected images. It was a little annoying though (although I'm probably being very picky here) that the projected light sometimes hit actors exiting and entering during blackouts. It's a pity they could not have been projected a little higher and just miss the top of the actors heads.
The choice to resist any temptation to give in to grosteque makeup and effects was a very good one, but might not have worked but for the excellent performances. I think makeup would have just served to mask the characters who would have used it, seeing their real faces exposed was so much more effective and much more in keeping with the themes of the play.
Great though the direction and setting was, to an actor (and that's the only area I really have experience in) this show's most impressive asset was it's cast; and as impressive assets go...well..to use the words of a fellow audience member; "Crikey!"
The lady who played The Actor Lady was just amazing. She was everything at once; bravado, vulnerability, compassion, arrogance, bravery, weakness. And all with incredible grace. She was a pleasure to watch. I wanted to clap after all of her scenes, expecially in the conversation with the Doctor about bones (which was just so funny) and her first meeting with Merrick. I can't congratulate her enough on her performance and as soon as some one lets me know her name, I'll look out for it and go and see anything else she's in.
Kingsley Judd was great as usual, but I had trouble understanding him in some parts, particluarly the pin-head scene. Which was a pity because it left me wondering what the story was with the pin-heads. I'd still quite like to know. But he carryed his varied characters well and (surprise, surprise) got most of the shows laughs.
A very welcome return to the stage from Paul Treasure as the doctor. Again an actor who managed to portray all the conflicts and facets of the character with ease and clarity. His struggle was painful to watch and the character never anything but flawed and human. Paul and David have not let him simply become the hero of the piece, and he is, as a result, compelling. I lost him a little at the end though in the scene with the Bishop. I though it might be a problem with focus, even when things start to come apart for a character, I think the audience needs focus to understand the conflict.
Stephen Lee just rocks. He is a pretty distinctive looking guy, but his physical transformation (without any actual physical transformation) from the Bishop to the Spruker guy is really an amazing thing to see. I can't wait to see him in the Scottish Play at the same venue later in the year.
The Other Doctor Guy and the other pin head lady (I know, I suck) aquited themselves admirably, despite costume changes from hell and multiple characters. I really enjoyed their performances. I felt the Other Doctor Guy at times suffered a little from the same vocal problems that Kingsley did. But Her Majesty was just a scream.
And then there was the Elephant Man. What a pity he let the side down so badly. (Ahh, sorry Petaaaaan, couldn't reist that.)Tony Petani as John Merrick was just wonderful. The character could so easily be a characiture, a pathetic but heroic martyr, but he never was. He was a quiet all pervasive presence who covered the entire stage and everyone on it. The performance was brave and subtle, never pushed too far, and all the more heartbreaking for never being allowed to be "heartbreaking". His deformities where horrible to see, even though they were created simply by a limp, a tilted head and a hanging arm. But more than that, though childlike at times, Tony's Merrick was always a man. And Shirley, yes I will order those rehearsal photos. Thanks.
I know I have been going on for a long time, but here is my gripe. I felt the play never had the emotional impact it should have. It was restrained and beautiful played and directed, but it lacked conflict. I don't know if that was the script. I though more of the conflict should have been generated by the Other Doctor Guy somehow. I just had an impression that it was supposed to come from him but I never felt it. I also felt that the parade of characters talking to the doctor in quick sucession should also have left me feeling worse than it did. It may be that I was looking for a bad guy in a black hat that I could hate and blame, and that may not have been the point (It wouldn't be the first time I have missed said point!).
Overall, the show is wonderful. And more than that it is the product, as Angelique has already said, of people trying to stimulate YOUR theatre scene and provide opportunities for all of us. I'd hate to think where theatre in Perth would be without the David and Shirley's of the world. But don't just go because you SHOULD (and you bloody well should!) go because you will really enjoy it.
That's what I think anyway.
Leah Maher.
Who; Naked Emotion Ensemble
Where; Rechabites, Northbridge (WA for all youse interstaters)
When; Saturday 10 May 2003
(First of all, apologies for calling members of the cast "actor lady" and"that doctor guy" and things like that. I didn't pick up a program 'cause I'm an idiot.)
I always thought that if David Meadows was going to direct a play that would break my heart, he would (directorially) rip it still beating from my chest and show it to me, before stomping it under heel, spitting on it and striding away with his black cloak billowing, laughing maniacly. I had no idea he was capable of breaking my heart by degrees, bit by bit, with subtlety and sensitivity. But he did it with The Elephant Man. Almost.
The staging was as it should be, exposed and bare, with nowhere on stage to hide and no room for pretense. At some points however I was a little confused as to where rooms ended and began and if all characters on stage where privy to conversations happening between other characters. The costuming was excellent, mood (and time) setting, without imposing too much on the action. The lighting played a large part, to some small extent being another character in the play, and I loved the changing backdrops and projected images. It was a little annoying though (although I'm probably being very picky here) that the projected light sometimes hit actors exiting and entering during blackouts. It's a pity they could not have been projected a little higher and just miss the top of the actors heads.
The choice to resist any temptation to give in to grosteque makeup and effects was a very good one, but might not have worked but for the excellent performances. I think makeup would have just served to mask the characters who would have used it, seeing their real faces exposed was so much more effective and much more in keeping with the themes of the play.
Great though the direction and setting was, to an actor (and that's the only area I really have experience in) this show's most impressive asset was it's cast; and as impressive assets go...well..to use the words of a fellow audience member; "Crikey!"
The lady who played The Actor Lady was just amazing. She was everything at once; bravado, vulnerability, compassion, arrogance, bravery, weakness. And all with incredible grace. She was a pleasure to watch. I wanted to clap after all of her scenes, expecially in the conversation with the Doctor about bones (which was just so funny) and her first meeting with Merrick. I can't congratulate her enough on her performance and as soon as some one lets me know her name, I'll look out for it and go and see anything else she's in.
Kingsley Judd was great as usual, but I had trouble understanding him in some parts, particluarly the pin-head scene. Which was a pity because it left me wondering what the story was with the pin-heads. I'd still quite like to know. But he carryed his varied characters well and (surprise, surprise) got most of the shows laughs.
A very welcome return to the stage from Paul Treasure as the doctor. Again an actor who managed to portray all the conflicts and facets of the character with ease and clarity. His struggle was painful to watch and the character never anything but flawed and human. Paul and David have not let him simply become the hero of the piece, and he is, as a result, compelling. I lost him a little at the end though in the scene with the Bishop. I though it might be a problem with focus, even when things start to come apart for a character, I think the audience needs focus to understand the conflict.
Stephen Lee just rocks. He is a pretty distinctive looking guy, but his physical transformation (without any actual physical transformation) from the Bishop to the Spruker guy is really an amazing thing to see. I can't wait to see him in the Scottish Play at the same venue later in the year.
The Other Doctor Guy and the other pin head lady (I know, I suck) aquited themselves admirably, despite costume changes from hell and multiple characters. I really enjoyed their performances. I felt the Other Doctor Guy at times suffered a little from the same vocal problems that Kingsley did. But Her Majesty was just a scream.
And then there was the Elephant Man. What a pity he let the side down so badly. (Ahh, sorry Petaaaaan, couldn't reist that.)Tony Petani as John Merrick was just wonderful. The character could so easily be a characiture, a pathetic but heroic martyr, but he never was. He was a quiet all pervasive presence who covered the entire stage and everyone on it. The performance was brave and subtle, never pushed too far, and all the more heartbreaking for never being allowed to be "heartbreaking". His deformities where horrible to see, even though they were created simply by a limp, a tilted head and a hanging arm. But more than that, though childlike at times, Tony's Merrick was always a man. And Shirley, yes I will order those rehearsal photos. Thanks.
I know I have been going on for a long time, but here is my gripe. I felt the play never had the emotional impact it should have. It was restrained and beautiful played and directed, but it lacked conflict. I don't know if that was the script. I though more of the conflict should have been generated by the Other Doctor Guy somehow. I just had an impression that it was supposed to come from him but I never felt it. I also felt that the parade of characters talking to the doctor in quick sucession should also have left me feeling worse than it did. It may be that I was looking for a bad guy in a black hat that I could hate and blame, and that may not have been the point (It wouldn't be the first time I have missed said point!).
Overall, the show is wonderful. And more than that it is the product, as Angelique has already said, of people trying to stimulate YOUR theatre scene and provide opportunities for all of us. I'd hate to think where theatre in Perth would be without the David and Shirley's of the world. But don't just go because you SHOULD (and you bloody well should!) go because you will really enjoy it.
That's what I think anyway.
Leah Maher.