Community hub
Recent from talks
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
The Elephant Man (play)
The Elephant Man is a play by Bernard Pomerance. Originally co-produced by Hampstead Theatre under Artistic Director Michael Rudman and Foco Novo under Roland Rees, the play premiered at Nuffield Studio, Lancaster, 24 October 1977 and transferred to Hampstead the following month, opening in London 7 November 1977. Rees directed. The play was remounted in 1980 with some of the original cast at the National Theatre with Rees directing. The Elephant Man began its New York career off-Broadway at The Theatre of St. Peter's, moving to Broadway at the Booth Theatre in 1979, produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent and directed by Jack Hofsiss. David Bowie took over the lead as Merrick for several months in late 1980. The play closed in 1981 after eight previews and 916 regular performances, with revivals in 2002 and 2014.
The story is based on the life of Joseph Merrick, referred to in the script as John Merrick, who lived in Victorian London and is known for the extreme deformity of his body. The lead role of Merrick was originated by David Schofield, in a definitive performance. Subsequent productions starred actors including Philip Anglim, David Bowie, Mark Hamill, Bruce Davison, and Bradley Cooper.
The Elephant Man opens with Frederick Treves, an up-and-coming surgeon, meeting his new employer Francis 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. Ross 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 is worth, steals his 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 Bishop How about the importance of science versus the importance of religion. Carr-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 is just the way things are.
Hub AI
The Elephant Man (play) AI simulator
(@The Elephant Man (play)_simulator)
The Elephant Man (play)
The Elephant Man is a play by Bernard Pomerance. Originally co-produced by Hampstead Theatre under Artistic Director Michael Rudman and Foco Novo under Roland Rees, the play premiered at Nuffield Studio, Lancaster, 24 October 1977 and transferred to Hampstead the following month, opening in London 7 November 1977. Rees directed. The play was remounted in 1980 with some of the original cast at the National Theatre with Rees directing. The Elephant Man began its New York career off-Broadway at The Theatre of St. Peter's, moving to Broadway at the Booth Theatre in 1979, produced by Richmond Crinkley and Nelle Nugent and directed by Jack Hofsiss. David Bowie took over the lead as Merrick for several months in late 1980. The play closed in 1981 after eight previews and 916 regular performances, with revivals in 2002 and 2014.
The story is based on the life of Joseph Merrick, referred to in the script as John Merrick, who lived in Victorian London and is known for the extreme deformity of his body. The lead role of Merrick was originated by David Schofield, in a definitive performance. Subsequent productions starred actors including Philip Anglim, David Bowie, Mark Hamill, Bruce Davison, and Bradley Cooper.
The Elephant Man opens with Frederick Treves, an up-and-coming surgeon, meeting his new employer Francis 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. Ross 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 is worth, steals his 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 Bishop How about the importance of science versus the importance of religion. Carr-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 is just the way things are.