“People are frightened by what they don’t understand” The Elephant Man. Royal Haymarket Theatre, London 20.06.2015

It was in January where I had received a e-mail telling me of a new play that was about to hit West End, and when seeing who was starring in it also it was a no brainer that I had to go! ‘Elephant Man’ starring Bradley Cooper was coming to a limited run after its amazing run on Broadway, as soon as I knew tickets I was on that website in a flash!

Even with it only just being announced ticket were selling, and being a Tony nominated play, and a top cast it was clear those wanting to go and see it were aiming for the cheaper seats, me being one of them! Ranging from just over £100 to £35 pound, the tickets I could afford were in the upper circle. I decided to choose a weekend to go and see it (as I had yet to find someone to join me, I thought this would be the best choice), and scanning through them I managed to fine availability in the front row centre of the upper circle on June 20th for the matinee, at the price of £45 and being front row I knew (and hoped) my view would be ok.

With the tickets bought and the confirmation e-mail received I was so excited! But I needed a partner to join me, and even with an advertisement on facebook, and just likes and no response I was finding it hard to find a partner and my usual theatre buddy was going to take her boyfriend to another showing. It looked as if I may be going solo and selling the spare ticket.

However, having recently moved to Kent with my other half (he was offered a great job!) and leaving my home of Hampshire, on my sister birthday meal, the weekend before I was due to move I asked my mum if she would like to join me on a day out together in London and see the play with me, I knew it was a long shot as my family aren’t as excited when it comes to seeing plays and musicals, and when I usually ask they normally say no. But this time, knowing that I was struggling to find someone and even my boyfriend had declined my mum accepted.

So on the Saturday I was off to London from my home for the first time, and looking forward to a day out in my favourite city with my amazing mum. We met at Waterloo after some train issues, and then walked towards the theatre, we didn’t have much planned but mum needed some bits from Boots, and a H&M so it was a given that we would go and wonder around Oxford Street. On route to there, we passed Trafalgar Square which on this weekend was West End Live, a mini free musical festival full of all the shows that are performing on West End currently. When we passed by it was during the Wicked set and Elphaba’s amazing ‘Defying Gravity’ was being played, it was my mum who noticed though that she wasn’t on stage, but actually on top of the building over looking Trafalgar, it was quite cool to see and made me want to go and see it again! But first Elephant Man.

After a couple hours on Oxford Street, and money spent we returned back towards the theatre and had a lunch in the nearby Café Nero. It was then time to go and take our seats. I wasn’t disappointed with our view! I was a little concerned that our view may be obstructed from the rail in front but how wrong was I, as you can see from the photo we had a full view of the stage, and could see everything, ok we did have to lean forward a little but not too much to complain, and the whole performance is placed on that wooden square (John Merricks bedroom mainly) the rest of the world was to the sides. So yep I was happy to have paid £45 for these seats.

The Elephant Man is based on the life of Joseph Merrick, (although in the script he is called John) who lived in the Victorian era, and was known for his extreme deformity of his body.

It opens with Frederick Treves, a surgeon who is meeting his new employer Carr-Gomm the administrator at the London Hospital. Cut scene and then we are sent to Whitechapel Road, and meet Ross, a manager of a freak show who invites a crowed to come and view John Merrick, the Elephant Man. Treves intrigued by Ross’s explanation of John wishes to see if this man is who he says he is. At quick glimpse, Treves insists that he must study John further, Ross agrees but at a price. When examining John, Treves give a lecture on his anatomy, making him stand on display while Treves describes.

Ross takes his freak show, and travels to Brussels with John after being driven out of London by the police. Although other freaks are performing such as the “pinheads” (people suffering from microcephaly, and mental retardation) John is refused to perform, as the police consider his condition ‘indecent.’ Due to this Ross chooses to send John back to London stealing his savings he feels now that John makes more trouble than he is worth, and sends him on the next train.

On arrival John’s appearance causes a crowed, and a trains conductor and policemen find Treve’s card on him and fetch him to calm the situation. Treves hurries to John who asks for his help. Treves supports him to London Hospital. Treves wishes to support John, and hire him a caretaker, a nurse to support him, this causes a struggle as people have come and gone in fear of John’s appearance. Treves feels that he is on to a winner when meeting Nurse Sandwich who assures him that she has cared for lepers in Africa, and is prepared for anything, Treves goes to introduce John, who seated in the bath to support clean his skin, and prevent his smell,  Sandwich bolts at the site of him, refusing to take the job.

The Bishop visits John, who declares him as a “true Christain in the rough” and asks treves if he is able to educate John in religion. After a argument over the importance of science over the importance of religion Treves agrees that the Bishop may visit him to support him, and teach. When the Bishops leaves Carr-Gomm announces John is able to live at the hospital for life after funding was received after he had an article printed in The Times and the people have donated money to support. Treves happy with the news is pleased to know that John has a place where he can stay without being stared at, and is determined that he will lead a normal life. At that point two attendants are caught coming to peek into his room, one gets fired, and the other given a severe warning. John begins to worry what will happen to the one who was fired and his family, but Treves informs him that he believes that it is important to enforce these rules, but Merrick having grown up in the workhouse wishes that no one suffer that fate. Treves however tells him that its just the way things are.

After some time Treves manages to provide John with a visitor, an actress Madge Kendal, who came upon the article in the paper. Madge when meeting John manages to require all of her self-control in order for her to hide her horror at his appearance. But after a conversation, she brings up Romeo and Juliet, and is stunned when John tells her his thoughts and sensitive views on Romeo and the nature of love, telling her that it is just and illusion that Romeo was living because just checking her breath to see if she was alive and not try any other way showed that he was not really trying to see if she was really alive, and killing himself was a coward way out (it made me think, and see it in a different light). Saying these things Madge softens to him, and wishes to continue with her visits along with bringing a few of her friends to meet him to, she shakes his hand and tells him how truly pleased she is to meet him. Treves tells her that this was the first time a woman has ever shaken his hand, and we see John dissolving into tears, of joy.

Madge brings so much into Johns life, and her high society friends visit and bring him gifts. in his free time John has been building a model of St. Philip’s Church, only able to work on it with his one good hand. He tells Madge that building the church is an imitation of grace, and the model is therefor an imitation of an imitation. When Treve comments that all of humanity is a mere illusion of heaven, John remarks that God should have used both hands. As John works, his visitors comment on how in many ways they see themselves in John and they warm to John. little do they know that his condition is worsening over time.

Madge and Johns relationship grows, and John feels that he can confide in her informing her that he needs a mistress, and suggest that Madge could do it for him and that he would like it. He admits he has never seen a naked women. Madge flattered by his show of trust and listens compassionately and in turn realises that she too has come to trust him. Madge says that before she med John she had seen photos of him, and some were fully naked, and it be only fair that John have the same. She undresses and allows him to see her naked body. Treves enters, and is shocked at what he has seen, he sends her away.

Ross’s returns to the hospital and askes John to return to the freak show, he tells John that his health has drastically declined, and without help he is going to have a painful death. He even tries to convince John to charge his visitors and give him a cut of the money. But John finally stands up for himself after the suffering Ross caused him and declines, even after one pathetic plea John turns him away saying ‘that’s just the way things are.’

Upset that Madge was sent away John confronts Treves and asks if he believes in god  and heaven, and states that what he did to Madge demonstrates his rigid standards for which he judges others. Treves realising that yes he has been to harsh informs John that he will write to Madge and allow her to return, however he feels that she may not return. John leaves the room, and Treves says the reason why he doesn’t wish her to return as he wishes for her to not to see John die.

Treves becomes more frustrated at the face that as John continues to act more normal, his condition worsens. He confronts the Bishop, and confides him in him telling him that he believes Johns faith is another attempt to emulate people, and it comes out that his frustrations source is the chaos of the world around him, his patients seem to be doing everything they can to make their lives short, and no matter how much he tries he can’t help them, including John. He begs for the Bishop to help him collapsing in his arms.

John finally finishes his model of the church. John seated on his bed, one of the helpers arrives with his lunch. John goes towards his lunch but takes back, and returns to his bed. Now for John, he usually sleeps seated up due to the weight of his head. but in one last attempt to be normal John chooses to lay down on his bed. He fights to sit back up cradling his head in hope that he will sit back up. But it is to much and he dies. The helper returns and finds him exiting the room screaming that the Elephant Man is dead.

the final scene ends on Carr- Gomm reading a letter that he is sending to the Times, telling the tale of John’s stay at the hospital and his death and plans for the funds donated for hi care. Treves upset is asked if there is anything to add, he says that he wishes for it to be said that John was a very intelligent and creative man, and leaves.

The story is very powerful, and I loved everything about it. Having worked in care for the past 5 years it was something that I cares about, and its amazing to see how times have changed with the acceptance to those with physical disabilities, and what we can provide for them. I think the thing that stood out to me the most was when Treves was talking to Madge, and trying to prepare her for what she was about to see, Madge is un phased by it all, to which Treves comments that actresses and actors are brilliant at what they can do, as they are able to take there way from reality, to enable them to accept anything that comes there way. This made me smile, as it is how I see myself when it comes to me working in care, and being a actress I can completely relate to Madge and what Treves is saying, I would like to think that if it was me in Madge’s shoes I would have done the same and would have been able to sit with John and help him.

Todays Cast:

John Merrick-Bradley Cooper

Mrs Madge Kendal – Patricia Clarkson

Frederick Treves – Alessandro Nivola

Ross, Bishop, Walsham How – Anthony Heald

Carr Gomm, Conductor – Henry Stram

Snork, Pinehead Manager, Lord John – Scott Lowell

Will, Orderly, Pinhead, Train station man – Chris Bannow

Miss Sandwich, Princess Alexandra, Nurse – Katheryn Meisle

Orderly, Pinhead, Belgium Policemam, Duke – Peter Bradbury.

The amazing thing about this play is that there are no understudies, I must admit that I was panicking thinking what if we got the understudy but during the interval the ice cream seller was telling the gentleman behind him that Bradley has no understudy at all, and if he goes off sick, or is unable to perform then there is no show that day. He even said that the reason there is no performances next Thursday Friday and Saturday is because Bradley is going Wimbledon to watch!

So I had no need to worry about not seeing Bradley perform, and I am so glad I did cause he was amazing, even my mum commented on how good he was compared to the films that he has been in, he really showed his actor side that made her see him in a new light. the role of John Merrick is very demanding, for Bradley has no prosthetics to show, but actually deforms his own body. We see this happen when Treves lectures about everything that is wrong with John, at first Bradley is a ‘normal’ man standing in front of an audition but as Treves discusses Bradley changes his body to reflect on what is being said so his lips would be to the side to give him the slurred speech. We watch him deform his own right hand by placing his fingers on top of one another and clamping it shut making it inactive throughout the whole performance, and then disfigures his hips so he can only mobilise with the support of a walking stick it was amazing! and so effective, evening without any prosthetics you still saw him as Joseph Merrick.

Patricia, and Alessandro both joining Bradley to the West End from the Broadway, and I can see why they asked them to return. They truly felt the story, and it shone through there performances, having such a tight small cast can have a great affect on the story not making it too busy and have the audience confused as to who is who, it helps us follow the story and understand the true meaning of it.

I am so happy that I got to see this play, and witness something be part of few who were able to do so, as it is now completely sold out till its final night! I can tell why it had its tony nominations and I can see it without a doubt have an Oliver nomination if not a win!  But also I am so happy to have actually experienced it with my mum, and have her join me in doing something that I love and really car e about, it was such a lovely day out, and I really hope that it has made her reconsider going to future performances with me . Ok she may not allow me to go to the stage door (as much as I wanted to for this, but having looked at twitter Bradley doesn’t always come out) but I can deal with that to know that she will be joining me.

Next month I am finally going to see Gypsy at the Savoy theatre which I have heard nothing negative about it, so watch this blog!