Reviews for The Elephant Man: A Play

The average rating for The Elephant Man: A Play based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2018-11-08 00:00:00 Richard Huggins Beautiful, brilliant and moving, The Elephant Man play by Bernard Pomerance is a sensitive look into John Merrick's mind, what his thoughts and feelings might have been. A man trapped in a hideously deformed body, he never showed his anger or despair to others, only his doctor starts to understand the man behind the mask. Women, little understood either, can sympathize. A famous actress, Mrs. Kendal, is asked by the doctor, Treves to meet Merrick TREVES: I am convinced they (women) are the key to retrieving him from his exclusion. Though, I must warn you, women are not quite real to him----more creatures of his imagination. Mrs. Kendal: Then he is already like other men, Mr. Treves. TREVES: So I thought, an actress could help. I mean, unlike most women, you don't give in, you are trained to hide your true feelings and assume others. Mrs.Kendal: You mean unlike most women I am famous for it, that is really all.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-03-03 00:00:00 William Hickey Set in Victorian London, THE ELEPHANT MAN is based on the true story of John Merrick. (real name Joseph Carey Merrick) As a horribly disfigured young man, John lived most of his incredibly short life of 28 years as a freak attraction at traveling side-shows until he came to the attention of Frederick Treves, a surgeon at London Hospital, who thankfully took him under his wing giving him an education, an introduction to society and a place to call home. Reading this sad play, learning how John spent his days, why he couldn't lay down or speak clearly led me to do a bit of research on John's life that brought to light discrepancies in the play, but made for a memorable and touching read. John was a kind and intelligent man who only wanted to be like every other man.