Ronald Knight Martin directs this production at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California. The pre-show is brilliant, the cast members coming out in turns of small groups like casual visitors to a sideshow, staring at the audience with everything from wonder to disgust, verbally and nonverbally noting various aspects of our appearance with differing levels of subtlety or harshness, making us feel just the slightest glimmer of what Merrick suffered throughout his life.

And then the play begins. We are introduced to John’s condition as doctors examine the disfigured silhouette on a hospital curtain. The chillingly clinical diagnosis informs us that the only unaffected part of John’s body is his left arm and hand. His right arm is deformed, his right hand a flipper. His enlarged skull makes his neck unable to support his heavy head in a normal sleeping position. His skin is diseased and smells. His disfigured hip and club foot leaves him unable to escape his tormenters.

The play is broken into many small scenes, which makes much of it feel a bit episodic, but the script gets smoother and build more dramatically in the second act. It largely explores the relationship between John and Dr. Treves, and what they both learn from John’s new life among the more affluent and “civilized” society. As John Merrick, Ben Carlson is gentle and sensitive, his reaction to his new life full of curiosity and gratitude. He’s clearly been hurt by hate and cruelty his entire life, and he is calm in the face of continued cruelty, but he doesn’t shy away from describing his observations to his doctor, who is a strange combination of friend and scientific observer. Rich Posert delivers a strong performance as the fairly green doctor who has an instinct to help, but struggles with social skills of his own, and doesn’t quite know how to handle the challenging case he’s brought into his life, resulting in a very well done dream sequence as Dr. Treves does some soul searching.

Elsewhere, Calli Conti turns in a touching performance as Mrs. Kendall, an actress who becomes John’s closest friend. The two of them have a nice, genuine rapport. The rest of the cast offer us glimpses into how society looks upon John, from a horrified nurse (Sienna Petree) to the upper crust of society and the lowest heels of society including the cruel pinheads who haunt John until the powerfully performed night of his death.

Performs November 12 - 21, 2009

Rob Hopper
National Youth Theatre