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
Tue, 13 May 2003, 02:41 pmFirstly, congrats to David and Shirley for finding such an evocative piece of work and secondly, my apologies for not saying so sooner!!
Thanks to Leah for mentioning everything that I have been thinking/feeling about the show for the week since I saw it. I am STILL thinking about it now!
Just a few comments because I'm short of time (and doing this at work!)
I agree with Leah's comment on the projected images sometimes finding the actors and spoiling an entrance or exit. I thought perhaps they would have been best projected onto the side flats, even both flats simultaneously for symmetry. We, the audience, would be more ready to overlook seeing entrances and exits if they weren't emphasised by spillage.
I too loved Vivienne Glance's beautifully serene, mature portrayal of Mrs Kendell. All her scenes were sensitively styled and I enjoyed the fact that we saw pity for Merrick on her face only fleetingly and that their friendship progressed believably. ALL the acting was studied and a pleasure to watch and I too, certainly agree with the decision not to mess around with makeup for Merrick.
Leah's comments about being confused of the intent in some scenes and not getting the impact she wanted from others, was exactly the way I felt. Maybe we've been "Hollywooded" and we're always looking for the good ol' formula (how horrific!) but I felt that the play was detached. One of the reasons I haven't put up my post until now is that I was trying to decide on whether I missed something or if that's the way the play is written. I'm still unsure, however, that does NOT deter from the value of this production. Loved the simplicity, starkness, sometimes harshness of the "set" and lighting. It was all very delicately handled.
Get along and see this show folks. It'll have you pondering for a long while.
Thanks to Leah for mentioning everything that I have been thinking/feeling about the show for the week since I saw it. I am STILL thinking about it now!
Just a few comments because I'm short of time (and doing this at work!)
I agree with Leah's comment on the projected images sometimes finding the actors and spoiling an entrance or exit. I thought perhaps they would have been best projected onto the side flats, even both flats simultaneously for symmetry. We, the audience, would be more ready to overlook seeing entrances and exits if they weren't emphasised by spillage.
I too loved Vivienne Glance's beautifully serene, mature portrayal of Mrs Kendell. All her scenes were sensitively styled and I enjoyed the fact that we saw pity for Merrick on her face only fleetingly and that their friendship progressed believably. ALL the acting was studied and a pleasure to watch and I too, certainly agree with the decision not to mess around with makeup for Merrick.
Leah's comments about being confused of the intent in some scenes and not getting the impact she wanted from others, was exactly the way I felt. Maybe we've been "Hollywooded" and we're always looking for the good ol' formula (how horrific!) but I felt that the play was detached. One of the reasons I haven't put up my post until now is that I was trying to decide on whether I missed something or if that's the way the play is written. I'm still unsure, however, that does NOT deter from the value of this production. Loved the simplicity, starkness, sometimes harshness of the "set" and lighting. It was all very delicately handled.
Get along and see this show folks. It'll have you pondering for a long while.