After their refusal to review The Wicker Woman last year, and a general reluctance to come along this year, The Scotsman have finally been in to see The Elephant Woman and given us a great review. Except it's only got three stars. Sometimes I just don't understand.

The Elephant Woman

London movie-spoofers Population:3 had a big hit last year with The Wicker Woman and they’re back, sharp as ever, updating the terrible true tale of John Merrick, in a riotous and naughty hour.

We all know the plot: Dr Treves finds "the creature" and brings her (this time) to the London Hospital. "Severe osteoparenthesis of the bonal canals," he diagnoses, a good indicator of how silly this show loves to be. "Who are you?" he asks, and she replies: "I’m an elephant." "Don’t put yourself down." "No. I’m Annella Phant." Boom, boom.

Treves and Miss Phant fall in love, battle "the keeper", and attend the opening night of The Importance of Being Earnest, hosted by an outrageously camp, very northern version of Oscar Wilde ("Arrait, cock?!"), a highlight.

Barunka O’Shaughnessy, Lucy Montgomery and James Bachman are all gifted and nimble comedians, tipping many a knowing twinkle at the audience. There isn’t that much in the gender reversal itself, and the show sidesteps this with excellent parodying of Victoriana itself - all urchins and prozzies.

Janet Bird’s lovely DIY set is a veritable music hall character in itself. A nip and a tuck here and there, and this show could run and run.

James Mulligan

morgue says:
Hello! My gf and I saw Elephant Woman last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. You'll be pleased to know we chose going out to see you lot to mark our 4th anniversary! Thankfully you proved well up to the task. (Also, we went to Paris last week, so that took the pressure off a bit.) An even split in responses - I liked Wicker Woman more, Caroline liked Elephant Woman more. We both liked both of them a lot. Comedy highlights of the fringe both years, excepting Conchords, who we're duty bound to like most because we're Kiwis. Best for the rest of the run!
posted by morgue on 26 August, 2004
 

Rory says:
Hi James, back again, with a thrillingly mundane glitch report: there's an unclosed strong tag in the first para of this entry (after 'The Scotsman') which is turning the whole page (and front page of the blog) bold in Mozilla.
posted by Rory on 30 August, 2004
 

James says:
Cheers for spotting that, Rory.
posted by James on 31 August, 2004
 

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