On January 2, Digital Journal had the privilege to see Bradley Cooper in The Elephant Man on Broadway at the intimate venue, The Booth Theatre in the heart of New York City.
Cooper has undergone a true physical transformation as the lead character, John Merrick, and he showcases a great deal of vulnerability in this role. Patricia Clarkson is a revelation and gives a warm and sentimental performance as Mrs. Kendal. Alessandro Nivola (who also appeared in American Hustle with Cooper) plays Merrick’s doctor, Frederick Treves, and nails the role, especially the neurotic scenes. Scott Ellis did a brilliant job with the play’s direction, and the script is extremely well-written.
Cooper truly rips his heart out, gives it to the crowd, and allows them to touch it for the duration of the play. The audience member will be drenched in a wide spectrum of emotions by the end of the production.
The Verdict
Overall, Bradley Cooper gives one of his best acting performances to date. He deserves to be recognized with a Tony nomination, to the very least, if not win the award in the future. Nivola and Clarkson deserved to be recognized for Tony awards as well. Cooper commands the stage for the duration of the play (100 minutes) and proves to be a lot more than a winner of a “Sexiest Man Alive” title, which he won back in 2011. The Elephant Man garners an A rating.
Originally an eight-week play, it has now been extended through February 22. To learn more about The Elephant Man on Broadway, visit its official website.
