The Malibu High School Drama Department scored another triumph last weekend. This year’s winter production was Bernard Pomerance’s “The Elephant Man,” which ran for four performances, from Thursday through Sunday. This tragic and inspiring true story of John Merrick was brought to life on the MHS stage by a talented cast and production crew and the sensitive direction of drama teacher Jodi Plaia.
Merrick suffered from a disease that made his body a grotesque parody of the human form but left his inner self gentle and all too human. Through the intervention of a caring doctor, he was transformed from a sideshow freak into a gentleman lionized by Victorian society during the latter part of his too brief life. Following the approach used in the Broadway production, the MHS version did not portray Merrick’s disfigurement literally. Instead, Carson Higgins, in his first starring role, minimally hinted at them by limping with a cane and immobilizing one arm. Actual photographs of Merrick flashed on a backdrop melded with his riveting performance. Tyrus Emory played the sympathetic doctor with appropriate gravity. The rest of the cast was uniformly excellent. Cellist Courtney Stellar’s haunting background music matched the play’s somber mood. Shon LeBlanc, of Valentino’s Costumes, provided authentic dress for the large cast.
“The Elephant Man” met the high standard set by last year’s “Les Miserables.” The Malibu community is indeed fortunate to have Malibu High School as one of its several theater venues.