User:Marvellous Elephant Man/sandbox
The Marvellous Elephant Man - the Musical
[edit]| The Marvellous Elephant Man - the Musical | |
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| Setting | Victorian London |
| Premiere | 2023: Melbourne |
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The Marvellous Elephant Man (MEM) is an award-winning Australian musical, dark comedy musical that premiered in 2023 to critical acclaim.
Set in Victorian London, this irreverent and inaccurate reimagining of the story of The Elephant Man tells the tale of John Merrick, a naive and humble sideshow freak, scooped up by the scheming Dr. Treves for fame and fortune. As Merrick unexpectedly becomes the toast of high society and begins a surprising romance with Treves’s fiancée, Nurse Hope, the doctor’s jealousy spirals him into madness, with outrageous and hilarious consequences. Merrick must overcome his fears to save his true love from the villainous doctor’s clutches.
History
[edit]Written and produced by an independent Australian team, MEM premiered at Melbourne Comedy Fest in 2022 as a week-long preview. In 2023, the show went on to a near sell-out national tour across Adelaide Fringe, Melbourne Comedy Fest, and The Sydney Spiegeltent.
Reception
[edit]The successful run saw the show win the ‘Adelaide Critics Circle Award for Best Show’ at Adelaide Fringe Festival (out of 1,200 shows), alongside three Green Room Awards nominations including ‘Best Writing of a New Musical’ and two ‘Best Lead in a New Musical’ nominations.
The show has received an overwhelmingly positive response from its 2023 season resulting in more than 30 ★★★★★ reviews.
Many critics have compared the show to ‘Rocky Horror’ and ‘Book of Mormon’ for its unapologetic and authentic humor. Others have likened it to mainstream classics like ‘Beauty & the Beast’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera’ owing to its ‘gothic fairytale’ like themes of romance and suspense.
Synopsis
[edit]ACT 1
[edit]Our endearing protagonist begins the story as a freakshow main attraction, where he is ‘discovered’ by the esteemed but vile Dr. Treves. To further his career, Dr. Treves presents the Elephant Man (John Merrick) to his peers as a medical marvel.
However, his plan backfires and the Elephant Man is embraced by high society. This enrages Dr. Treves who then conspires to bring about his downfall. Meanwhile, Hope, the doctor’s fiancée forms an unlikely relationship with Merrick.
From their first meeting, Merrick is smitten by Hope but his low self-esteem stops him from professing his true feelings. Hope is initially repulsed by Merrick’s outward appearance but quickly realizes that there is far more to him than meets the eye.
At the end of Act One, Dr. Treves’ plot comes to fruition and Merrick is disgraced and driven from high society.
ACT 2
[edit]In Act Two, the Elephant Man hits rock bottom. He finds himself at the bottom of a vodka bottle at “Mamushka’s House of Pleasure”. A surprise raid lands Merrick in prison, where he learns to face his fears. Rising up with his newfound self-confidence, he is determined to return to Hope.
With the Elephant Man gone, Dr. Treves begins losing credibility and his career spirals downward, darkness and desperation festering in the doctor.
After a tirade of unthinkable atrocities, he kidnaps Hope and lures the Elephant Man into a trap. An epic battle ensues. The doctor is defeated, and Hope and the Elephant Man live freakily ever after.
Creative Team
[edit]MEM was written and composed by trio Marc Lucchesi, Jayan Nandagopan, and Sarah Nandagopan.
Marc Lucchesi, who also performs as the show’s ‘Ring Master’, is the frontman of the popular Australian band Vaudeville Smash, internationally famous for their viral hit Zinedine Zidane and a mainstay on world music stages across the globe. Marc met Jayan while they were studying at Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music.
Jayan Nandagopan has toured globally as a session musician for some of the world’s biggest names, including Ray Charles, James Morrison, SIA, and Alice Cooper. He has published over 150 works, including orchestral arrangements for NYC’s Juilliard School.
Sarah Nandagopan (Musical Director) is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer. Sarah studied Music at Eastman School of Music and Penn State University, and has extensive experience as a musical theatre accompanist for independent artists in NYC and Penn State School Theatre Company.
The 2023 production was co-directed by award-winning independent filmmaker Chris H.F. Mitchell and Olivier award-winning theatre producer/director Guy Masterson.
Musical numbers
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| Year | Award Ceremony | Category | Nominee | Result |
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| 2023 | Adelaide Fringe | Adelaide Critics Circle Award 'Best Show' | Won | |
| 2023 | Green Room Awards | Best Writing of a New Musical | Nominee | |
| Best Lead in a New Musical Book of a Musical | Kanen Breen | Nominee | ||
| Best Lead in a New Musical | James Clark | Nominee | ||