This evening at the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon we were lucky enough to have tickets to see the final performance of The Elephant Man, directed by Terry Atkinson. Terry remembers the film version from an early age, and has been so captivated by the story that he directed it at the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon.
The portrayal of the Elephant Man, John Merrick, by Duncan Blagrove, was excellent – both moving, and a feat a strength.
The play begins with Merrick, as an exploited act in a Victorian ‘freak show’ who comes under the protection of Dr Frederick Treves. Treves introduces him to Mrs. Kendal, an actress, in whom he finds a soul mate.
The first half ended movingly with Merrick remembering his hard life in the workhouse, banging out the punishments he had received on the soap shelf of his bathtub.
Lighting and special effects transformed the dream sequences in the second half of the play. Merrick always had to sleep sitting up, but the final dream sequence ended with Merrick laying down on his bed like normal people do, and dying as a result.
It was a play that made us have to rethink how we treat people who are very different from us.
Pictures were taken from the Abingdon Drama Club. Many more pictures are on the Abingdon Drama Club Facebook Page.
