'Elephant Man' roles go to local pair
MIDLAND, Beaver County — Two students from Butler County have landed the leading roles in Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center's staging of “The Elephant Man.”
The show will open Nov. 11 in the center's BlackBox Theater.
Curtain is at 7:30 p.m.Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 20.
This production is based on Bernard Pomerance's famous play about the life of a physically deformed young man who lived in London during the latter part of the 19th century.
The two male leads of the show are students at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School.
Justin Atta of Cranberry Township takes on the title role of John Merrick and Dominic Skeele of Slippery Rock will perform as Dr. Frederick Treves.
Justin said he was hoping for the Merrick role. He auditioned with a piece from “The Caretaker” about the character Ashton's mental illness.
He said rehearsals have been going well though it's a difficult show to perform.
“But it's been a breeze because everyone in this show is not only talented but committed,” he said.
Justin said he is finding not only the physicality of the role challenging, but also portraying “a character who is so easily affected by others.”
“I love how much of a deep thinker he is, and how he likes to share those thoughts with others but not in a snobbish way,” he Justin said.
He is the son of Amy and Michael Atta.
Dominic, too, said he auditioned for the specific role for which he was cast. He auditioned with a dramatic piece from George Bernard Shaw's “Major Barbara,” he said.
Dominic said the emotional complexity of his character is challenging for him.“He's a character that is very developed, and by extension difficult to understand,” he said.“He initially cares only for himself, but in time develops a bond with John Merrick. Through this friendship, his view of the world is shifted, until he realizes his 'perfect' life no longer serves as consolation to him. Getting his character arc down has been a great challenge.”Dominic said he thinks his role is similar to himself.“He's a scientist who enjoys the practical things in life, yet isn't completely stoic. Eventually he develops a fairly cynical view about the self destructive nature of humanity, which is something I can certainly relate to,” he said.“When my character's despair climaxes towards the end of the play, I feel as if I'm venting my own frustrations through him.”He is the son of Nora Ambrosio and David Skeele.The cast of about 20 will be swathed in the clothing of the Victorian era, “a lot of big dresses and very nice suits,” said Justin.Tickets are $20. More information is available at www.LincolnParkArts.org.
