Bradley Cooper Is 'The Elephant Man' At Williamstown Theatre Fest
.jpg) Patricia Clarkson and Bradley Cooper will star in Williamstown Theatre Festival's production of 'The Elephant Man.' |
But, his dazzling blue eyes, dimples and manly facial hair make him easily recognizable.
No one will be seeing Cooper scoot around the Berkshires in his Vespa. "I don't use it anymore," he said at a Williamstown Theatre Festival press preview on Tuesday at the Williams Inn. Perhaps the powers that be in the entertainment industry have persuaded him to not risk damaging his face of fine physique.
The star of "The Hangover" and "Limitless" is in town to enact the role of John Merrick, the titular in 'The Elephant Man' by Bernard Pomerance, which will be presented on the Nikos Stage July 25 through August 5.
It seems incongruous that Cooper – tall and handsome with a mellifluous voice, and best known by movie fans for his comedic and romantic roles – will portray the severely deformed John Merrick.
"But I know Brad as a talented theater actor," said Jenny Gersten, artistic director of WTF, and Scott Ellis, the director of the performance, agrees.
Cooper is looking forward to performing the demanding and unflattering role.
"It is not that it will be easy, [Merrick's] medical maladies make it challenging, but I connect with how much he wanted to belong and be a part of [things]. It's something I have felt," he said.
In accordance with the conditions Pomerance set, actors do not use artificial devices to create the illusion of being deformed.
Cooper's ties to "The Elephant Man" took root during his childhood.
"My Dad showed me [the 1980 movie] when I was about 5, and that is why I am an actor," said Cooper, now 37. "That character was imprinted on me forever."
After graduating from Georgetown University, the Pennsylvania native pursued a master of fine arts in acting from the Actors Studio Drama School in New York City. As part of his senior thesis he performed the role of John Merrick in "The Elephant Man," at the Circle in the Square in New York .
 Cooper has a long history with the play and claims the movie is what made him become an actor in the first place. |
Now he expects the same of the WTF production. But since he has matured and become a seasoned professional actor, he may be guided by new insight into the role.
"It will be different every night. I hope it's best when you are there," the actor said to those attending the press preview.
Cooper believes he will succeed in virtually bringing Merrick back to life on the Nikos stage, if, for instance, the audience feels they are in the hospital room with that unfortunate yet inspiring soul.
"WTF is Utopia. The play runs for just so many performances - not six months. You focus and it's done. I love that. I did a Broadway play and it was wonderful but brutal," Cooper said. "I love Williamstown - the college campus... You have your little routine, and I’m staying in the same place I did three years ago.”
While Ellis is just weeks before an opening night, he admitted that he had doubted that they would ever be able to put on the play.
"Brad brought it up but I never thought in a million years that we would find time to do it with his schedule and mine," Ellis said. "This year, Brad got lucky and had the time, and we started talking about who we would like in the company. We wanted Patricia Clarkson as Mrs. Kendal (an actress who befriended John Merrick)."
When Clarkson received a text from Cooper that read 'you, me, Williamstown,' she sighed 'Ohhh,' she said at the Williams Inn, and then playfully snuggled her head on Cooper’s chest.
"I knew you would be a great Mrs. Kendall," said Cooper.
Clarkson and Cooper are returnees to WTF, respectively appearing in Arthur Miller's "The Ride Down Mt. Morgan" in 1998 and Theresa Rebeck's "The Understudy" in 2008. Including "The Elephant Man," Elliot has been the director of nine WTF productions.
