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drinks Monday 4 August 08
The Elephant Woman
Verdict: Victorian freakshow parody
This is a gender-bending version of the film 'The Elephant Man'. It's in the comic tradition of production company Population: 3's earlier work 'The Wicker Woman'.
Merrick the man has become Miss Ellie Phant. Her head stays inside a bag for most of the show.
The Elephant Woman starts as a lecture by Dr Professor Treeves (James Bachman). It's thick with sight-gags and one-liners.
Pompous Professor Treeves thrives on the medical oddities he is able to present to his audience. Proceedings open with his wife (Lucy Montgomery) giving birth to a baby/puppet from a foam womb. He acquires The Elephant Woman (Lucy Montgomery) from a freak-show and displays her for his own ends.
A Russian freak-show owner, a nurse and a prostitute (all Barunka O’Shaugnessy) make brief appearances for laughs. There's smut, cross-dressing, self-mockery - and one or two brilliant props.
There are sensitive - and hilarious - moments. The Elephant Woman puts her make-up on over her bag. She tries to return to her roots - the zoo; it's represented by a single wooden penguin.
Gratuitous four-letter words don't sit easily with the rest of the show. And there are too many bits of business that don't develop into anything. The appearance of Oscar Wilde (James Bachman) as a Northern Club comedian is as silly as it's irrelevant.
The small cast are ingenious in presenting many different Victorian stereotypes in quick succession. But they fail to establish a strong storyline.
Cast Credits (alpha order): James Bachman, Lucy Montgomery, Barunka O’Shaugnessy
Company Credits: Written by Company & Director. Director - David Sant. Designer - Janet Bird. Sound / Lights - Tanya Noble. Props - Max Gadney, Janet Bird. Costumes - Phoebe Soteriades. Company - Population: 3
END
(c) Peter Andrews 2004
reviewed Wednesday 18 August 04 / Pleasance Courtyard
Fringe Report (c) Fringe Report 2002-2008
