“Sometimes I think my head is so big because it is so full of dreams.” This is the seminal quote from the play The Elephant Man, by Bernard Pomerance. The Tony Award winning play will be presented at Mundelein High School on November 21, 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m., and November 22 at 3:45p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. The matinee performance on Friday is only $1 for MHS students. Since this production will be staged on a 200-seat onstage thrust configuration, online tickets are recommended, and can be purchased at www.mundeleintheatre.org. Tickets can also be purchased at the door, 30 minutes prior to each performance. This play is not recommended for anyone under 13 years of age.
The Elephant Man is based on the story of Joseph Merrick (referred to in the play as John Merrick), a young man who lived in the Victorian era and is known for the extreme deformity of his body. Seen as a freak by society, his life is changed when physician Frederick Treves agrees to care for him. “This is not a play that is produced very often on high school stages,” said Jonathan Meier, the play’s director.” We are eager to bring this beautiful and difficult piece to MHS.” Meier continued, “The fact that the audience will be sitting on the stage with the performers will certainly add to the excitement and anticipation.”
Playing the role of John Merrick is MHS junior Matthew Callas. “The script is very specific that the actor playing this role should not wear any prosthetic makeup, and that the actor should portray Merrick’s deformity through physicality, letting the audience imagine his appearance,” said Callas. ““The physical demands of having to contort my body to play the role has been a challenge, but even more of a challenge is the fact that Merrick had a severely deformed face which prevented him from showing much emotion. We have been working hard in rehearsal to find the right range of emotion while staying true to his physical condition.” Senior Colby Willis portrays Dr. Frederick Treves. “My character takes quite an emotional journey during the course of the play,” said Willis. “His friendship and experience with Merrick causes him to examine his own life and moral center.”
Seniors in the company are Ellie Mellen (Mrs. Kendall), Marta Sikora (Mrs. Gomm), Steven Weiss (Ross), Isabella Marotti (Pinhead Manager), Ahmad Koya (Belgian Police), Josh Fergen (Conductor), Allan Rodriguez (London Police), Katie Staroszczyk (Miss Sandwich), Miriam Mitry (Porter), and Elias Photopoulos (Bishop How). Rounding out the cast are Zoe Trahan (Pinhead), Mira Guiritan (Pinhead), Lucas Fuller (Pinhead), Mary McMurray (Snork), Brenda Olayo (Dutchess), Rosy Castro (Duchess), Alexis Lee (Princess Alexandria) and Roy Dumblauskas (Sir John). Joslyn Gange is the stage manager and Amari Liebe is the assistant director.