Playwright: Bernard Pomerance
At: The Side Studio, 1520 W. Jarvis
Phone: (773) 973-2150; $15
Runs through: Feb. 15
Probably one of the most famous lines of the film version of The Elephant Man is when John Merrick, the horribly deformed Englishman who became something of a cause celebre in late 19th century London, was 'I am not an animal!' when he was attacked by throngs of ignorant, normal-looking people. You won't find that line in Bernard Pomerance's sensitive and thoughtful script. His meditation on the monstrous on the outside, sensitive and intelligent on the inside man is not as sensational as the film, but its simple and probing narrative arc is actually richer and more satisfying. Pomerance presents Merrick's story without editorializing it or making any obvious grabs for sympathy. Here was a man who was born normal, but who quickly exhibited bone and skin abnormalities that made him the object of ridicule and horror. Abandoned by his father after his mother died, Merrick eventually settled into being exploited and making a living as a freak. When that proved to be an unsuccessful route, Merrick was again abandoned by the man who exhibited him, and, through a succession of unusual circumstances, ended up under the care of Dr. Frederick Treves, who oversaw Merrick for the rest of his life in a London hospital, where upper class society took an interest in him.
The Side Studio, which is fast becoming the theatrical little engine that could on Chicago's far north side, offers a production that matches the sensitivity, simplicity, and emotional appeal of Pomerance's script. Directed with a sharp eye for detail and a subdued palette by Jimmy McDermott, this Elephant Man is right on target. Fortunately for McDermott, he has a talented cast working to bring the story to life. As Merrick, Billy Cooper gives a flawless performance, creating an extremely sympathetic man inside the body of a monster. We feel for him and grasp the horror of his situation through subtle touches. Copper uses only small alterations to his face and walk to create Merrick; and costume designer Anna Fitzloff creates a simple, ragged gray costume to eloquently suggest his deformities and ties to his elephant man name. As Treves, the physician who cares for Merrick in both the professional and personal sense, Jeff Duhigg is also natural, unaffected, and powerful. Catherine Kusch, as Mrs. Kendal, the socialite for whom Merrick expresses love and sexual curiosity, is a paradoxical blend of confidence and vulnerability. These are actors who haven't been seen much around town, but if these performances are any indication, they soon will.
And The Side Studio represents what's best about Chicago's tradition of tiny storefront theater that's rich in quality. Make the trip to Rogers Park and see what can happen when creativity, intelligence, economy, and drive combine to create art.