1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 May 1999
When I started working on The Elephant man I had a dilemma
to solve. Should I behave like Bytes? Should I make a spectacle of the freak
... a hundred years on?
I felt that there is much more to this story than simple narration of an unfortunate tale. One thing that immediately struck me was the strong element of caricature present within the narrative. The Barker and his entourage became my voice.
The circus, the theatre, the 'different' ... and society that thinks of itself as normal. Different strands that when woven together create an intriguing story line that is timeless and relevant.
So I decided to thread softly and look at the freak as, malgre' lui, the chosen sacrifice, sacred to the gods and their earthly priests. Therefore, I have sought to treat 'it' with the reverence this ungrateful role deserves.
No sensitive sensationalism.
I sought to prevent a toned down hero, an almost imperceptable Christ figure, forgotten by his father, separated from his beloved mother, mocked and his soul killed by the mob. A saint on whom to prey and feel cleansed. Eces Homo finally resurrected to a peaceful death.
'Amen' lies at the begining of our liturgy tonight. The messiah is no other than the torturer and we can go on, safe in our belief that Jerry in the box is the ultimate philantropist.
The clown is the face we behold in the mirror ...make-up makes it even more real and much more true to life
SALVU MALLIA
23-4-99
'Tis true my form is something odd,
But blaming me is blaming God;
Could I create myself anew
I would not fail in pleasing you.
If I could reach from pole to pole
Or grasp the ocean with a span,
I would be measured by the soul;
The mind's the standard of the man.
| John Merrick | Darrin Zammit Lupi |
| Frederick Treves | Anthony Ellul |
| Anne Treves | Karen Magro |
| Mrs. Kendal | Ninette Micallef |
| Mrs. Mothershead | Josephine Fuller |
| Carr Gomm | Charles Sammut |
| Nurse Nora | Moira Muscat |
| Princess Alexandra | Christine Cassar Naudi |
| Broadneck | Joe Cortis |
| Bytes | Michael Tabone |
| Night Porter | Renato Dimech |
| Mr. Fox | Mariano Said |
| Mr. Hodges | Ramon Mizzi |
| Mr. Pierce | Alexis Mizzi |
| Skeleton Man | Victor Debono |
| Fat Lady | Lino Mallia |
| Dwarves | Josephine Fuller |
| Andrew Cole | |
| Treves' Daughter | Sarah Ellul |
| Wind Man | Joe Cortis |
| Lady Waddington | Josette Cassar |
| Lord Waddington | Mark Vella |
| Siamese Twins | Josette Cassar |
| Anna Formosa | |
| Dwarf | Alexis Mizzi |
| Tall Man | Mark Vella |
| Footman | Salvu Mallia |
| Mother | Victor Debono |
| Girl | Anna Formosa |
| Boy | Alexis Mizzi |
| Henry V | Victor Debono |
| Singer | J C Scicluna |
| Fire-eater | Robert Ellul |
| Chorus | Joe Pace |
| Claire Agius | |
| Violinist/Tramp | Lindsey Mallia |
| Stage Manager | Nadia Attard Cassar |
| Set Construction |
Lino Mallia, Joe Pace, Anthony Ellul |
| Poster | Salvu Mallia, Joe Pace |
| Drawings | Mariano Said |
| Props | Anthony Ellul, Elizabeth Agius Fenech |
| Costumes | Josephine Ellul |
| Publicity | Anthony Ellul, Salvu Mallia |
| Photography | Darrin Zammit Lupi |
| Book | Elizabeth Agius Fenech |
| Front of House | John Ellul |
| Make-Up | Karen Montalto |
| Special Thanks To: | Anna Catania, Koperattiva Kulturali Universita', Joe Saliba (Precincts Office), Frank Tanti, Maleth, The Perfection, Victor Sammut |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
A Man of Sorrows - Paul Xuereb
Of Indian, Thai and Maltese Elephants - Norbert Ellul Vincenti
