The Marvellous Elephant Man co-directed by Guy Masterson & Chris Mitchell Review by That Guy In The Foyer, John Doherty ★★★★★+ Presented by Guy Masterson, Floating World Entertainment & Joanne Hartstone Wonderland Spiegeltent, Hindmarsh Square / Mukata, Corner Grenfell and Pulteney Street. 26 Feb – 13 March It’s rare I leave at the end of a show feeling like the four- year-old I was when I saw my first ever theatre, "The Pirates of Penzance," staged in an ancient local hall in Harrow Weald, North London. One of the Pirates, who I’m sure was keen on my Mum, even let me touch his hard, cold dagger! Make of that what you will, but such risqué innuendo pervades The Marvellous Elephant Man-The Musical in cheek blushing abundance! And it's refreshing! “The Beat” describes this tour de force as The Book of Morman meets Beauty and the Beast, but I think it’s more like The Book of Morman meets Beauty and the Beast, f#@%ing Rocky Horror Picture Show, seducing Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder’s wonderful 1974 movie Young Frankenstein, as told by Billy Connolly! The actual story of Joseph Carey Merrick, often erroneously called John Merrick, is tragic and bitter sweet and, I think, important to understand as a platform for the genius of this show! Born in 1862, Merricks range of severe physical abnormalities began to occur at eighteen months and developed and worsened rapidly over a short time. Exhibited – of his own volition as a survival strategy, I might add- as a “curiosity” in carnivals and the like, Merrick came to the attention of a =Dr Frederick Treves who eventually secured his accommodation at London Hospital. The good doctor forbade any mirrors in the proximity of Merricks room. Thanks to the chairman of the hospital committee, Francis Carr Gomm, who wrote letters to The Times, Merrick's case attracted the notice and, presumably the curiosity and eventual compassion of London's high society. Merrick became something of a celebrity, even enjoying the occasional holiday at country estates and visits to the theatre, which he enjoyed. He died aged twenty- seven. And that, dear reader, is what writer Marc Lucchesi, and composers Jayan and Sarah Nandogoapn have somehow crafted this tale into a contemporary vaudeville style musical that has us grinning and laughing for ninety minutes! This production is pure joy because this tale has been treated as one of triumph of love over adversity and not in that sentimental, soppy way but in a sometime brutally humorous way. The libretto borders on scandalously “un-woke” at times, but therein lies its genius! It makes us laugh at the “human condition” in a way we’re not supposed to anymore, and its grand! Think the rise of Theatre of the Absurd as a zeitgeist response to the horrors of World Wars One and Two, and you may fathom why this works! This is real Fringe! In this comic reimagining of Merrick’s life, we celebrate the “hopefulness and courage of a deeply-misunderstood man” and, by virtue of that, must examine ourselves. The deft co-direction of Olivier award-winning West End director Guy Masterson, and Melbourne based award-winning film director Chris Mitchell is evident in the clever staging of this relatively complex tale. Roberto Surace’s costumes are fabulous! The clarity and balance of sound by Wayne Pashley is flawless, the ban, immaculate and utterly part of the show! And the mostly Victorian performers sparkle with a cheeky, sexy, tongue in cheekiness while delivering superb vocals! All of them! An ensemble cast par excellence! The Marvellous Elephant Man ticks all the boxes; provocative, risqué, and entertainingly rollicking good fun! To my mind this is THE show of the season so far! Go! Go see it!