www.montereycountynow.com JANUARY 8-14, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 23 ONSTAGE It is a merry and warm theater set on a rainy night, and even though the content of the play— The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance—is heavy, Enchantrix Theatre proves once again that for them, it’s all about the location. This time, they are performing in Seaside, hard to find in the belly of a busy residential building. But once you find the spot and go through a light curtain, you find yourself in another world. There has hardly been an occasion that this Monterey County performing arts group picked an obvious set. They showed Jesus Christ Superstar in Castroville, Don Quixote: A Musical Journey in Sand City and A Midsummer Night’s Dream near Elkhorn Slough—none of the shows staged in a traditional theater. On this rainy rehearsal night, where the last decisions on lighting are being made, the cast is engaged and seems to be having fun. At the back of the room, Sean Aten (designer) and Brian Sheffield (director), are DJing the whole thing. “OK everybody, upstage please!” Sheffield calls. “Positions.” And the story begins. According to Aten, Cody Moore is the driving force behind the project. Moore plays the titular Elephant Man—a man physically deformed and emotionally abused in Victorian London. Historically, Joseph Merrick (1862-1890) was an Englishman with severe bodily disfigurement, who was exhibited at a freak show under the stage name “The Elephant Man.” That was before he met surgeon Sir Frederick Treves (played by Adam Skerritt), who let him live at a London Hospital as an object of Treves’ studies. Moore is striking in his representation of Merrick, visually and psychologically. He encounters a variety of human types who each will try to find a way to exploit him. “The most rejected and ignored in society have different insights on life than those who are the norm,” Moore says. “When those in the norm learn from those broken souls, we may gain something new within ourselves.” Pomerance’s play debuted off-Broadway in 1997. Picked up by Enchantrix, it is another invitation to a challenging, immersive stage experience. Other members of the cast are Mark Richer, Lily Robnett, Marcus Edwards, Phil Livernois, Hannah Riley and Rudy Garcia. The Elephant Man by Enchantrix is performed 7pm Fridays-Saturdays, Jan. 9-Jan. 31. 1534 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. $20. enchantrix.net. AGATA POPĘDA In the Room Enchantrix Theatre’s staging of The Elephant Man brings a weighty subject to an unusual space. By Agata Popęda Far left: Cody Moore as Joseph Merrick, also known as the Elephant Man. Adam Skerritt (Frederick Treves) sits at the desk, while Phil Livernois (Bishop How) stands to the right. 59th Season | Sunset Center | 7:30 pm LYSANDER PIANO TRIO JAN 10 2026 WORKS BY: • Udi Perlman • Mieczysław Weinberg • Antonín Dvořák CONCERT TICKETS $30-$75 KIDS UP FRONT & FREE Program! FREE: Students Grades 3-12 and Music Teachers Adult Chaperones $15 Call to inquire and reserve. – The Washington Post An uncommon degree of heart-on-the-sleeve emotional frankness”
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