There seems to be no end to Bradley Cooper’s talents. Big screen, small screen, theatre stage…throw it at Cooper and he will shine.
The American ‘Hangover’ star is starring in a theatre production of ‘The Elephant Man’ in Massachusetts to raving critic reviews this week.
It may be tough to imagine but Bradley is playing the hideously-deformed title character at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.
Cooper’s character, John Merrick, is a man with hideous deformities who goes from being a sideshow freak to the most elegible bachelor in town. The story of John Merrick is true, based on a severely-deformed man of the same name in the 19th century. The story is portrayed in the 1980 film, ‘The Elephant Man’.
The Albany Times Union, a state newspaper, said Cooper has;
“…the right amount of intensity to maintain his contorted posture and the right amount of charm to reveal Merrick’s humour and humanity.”
Swoon…
The play holds a special place in Cooper’s heart. When he was younger, Cooper moved to New York City to develop his stage work. His thesis performance was as the character John Merrick in ‘The Elephant Man’, which he performed in New York’s Circle in the Square.
Cooper gets the chance to show off some of his body too as he performs half-naked for most of the production.
The moment Cooper transforms into Merrick is “one of the strongest moments of theatricality in the production,” the Albany Times Union said.
He transforms into John Merrick as he stands on stage only wearing shorts while a screen behind shows pictures of the real John Merrick.
Cooper undergoes a stunning transformation by twisting his fingers together, lifting his arm, turning in a leg and sliding his lips to one side of his face. Ta-dahhh! Bradley Cooper is back!
Thank God says us.
