News : VS alum returns as director; \'Elephant Man\' opens on VSHS stage Saturday

Wyatt Oltrogge, John Levis and Matt Walston rehearse for 'Elephant Man.'

Emma Horst and John Levis

John Levis plays the part of 'The Elephant Man' in the VSHS production that opens Saturday.

The nurse (Katherine Dick) tells Dr. Treves she can handle seeing 'The Elephant Man.'

In this scene, the characters speak about how the 'Elephant Man' is like them.

Director Nich Radcliffe prepares photos for the show.

Director Nich Radcliffe speaks to the cast before dress rehearsal.

The director and cast work on the set.

Nikki Thompson and John Levis rehearse a scene from 'Elephant Man.'

Nikki Thompson and Wyatt Oltrogge.

The 'Pinheads' from the circus: Emma Horst, Liz Moen and Tess Noeller.

The pinheads dance...

Wes Lyons rehearses a scene with the 'Pinheads."

Doctors (Wyatt Oltrogge and Matt Walston) discuss the condition of the patient.

Merrick (John Levis) and Treves (Wyatt Oltrogge) discuss his case near the actress (Nikki Thompson).

Will Hancock as the announcer introduces the 'Elephant Man' at the circus.

How do you use make up to make the main character of any stage version of "The Elephant Man" look like the real-life 19th Century English man who inspired the Century American play?

You don't, says the man who is directing it in Vinton this weekend.

"Bernard Pomerance, in his introduction to the play, wrote that there is no way to make a character look and sound as hideous as the original 'Elephant Man' actually was," said director Nich Radcliffe. "He said trying to do so would only distract the audience."

So, the actor playing "The Elephant Man," John Levis, will appear "normal" in the play, while standing in front of a screen showing photos of the real man who inspired the show.

Radcliffe, a 1997 Vinton-Shellsburg graduate, has returned from Chicago, where he has been involved in professional theater for 14 years. He offered his assistance, and was invited to select and direct this year's Vinton-ShellsburgHigh Schoolspring play.

"I chose 'Elephant Man' because of its universals," said Radcliffe, explaining that the word universals refers to things that all people have in common.

"I think 'Elephant Man' is relevant to this age group, to our society, to small towns in the Midwest," said Radcliffe on Thursday, as he prepared for the first dress rehearsal. The main theme of the play, he said, is the difficulty of finding unconditional love, something that everyone experiences.

Pomerance's play from 1979 is based on the life of Joseph Merrick, who became known as "The Elephant Man" because of his unusual bone disorder. Merrickdied in 1890, at age 27, after becoming first a "freak show" and then a celebrity in Englandand other European nations. Merrick's first name was Joseph, but Pomerance used the first name "John" for the play.

Radcliffe cautions audience that the version of the play coming to the VSHS stage is identical in language to the Pomerance version. It uses some words that were commonly used in the late 19th Century but are now considered offensive by some.

"This is not a play for 10-year-old children to see," he said. "I think we owe it to the playwright to produce the play they intended to produce. You can't change the words without changing the meaning of the play."

The cast includes John Levis as "The Elephant Man," along with Wes Lyons, Wyatt Oltrogge, Matt Walston, Will Hancock, Nikki Thompson, Katherine Dick, Tess Noeller, Emma Horst, and Liz Moen. Most of the actors and actresses play several roles in the production; Radcliffe said few people tried out for parts.

The play focuses on Merrick's life, the reaction of people to his condition, and his desire to be "normal." Radcliffe is using many actual photographs of Merrickin the VSHS version.

Tickets for the dramatic production are $4 students/$5 adults, may be purchased at the door. Vinton-Shellsburg activity passes will be accepted.