The Elephant Man at El Portal Theatre

"In 2011, I contracted the Bell's Palsy virus. The entire left side of my face was paralyzed. I had to tape my left eye open during the day, and tape it shut at night. My nose was being pulled across my face by the strong muscles on the right side, and that made my left nostril collapse. I would drool and slur my speech. Out in public during the early stage of this condition; I was met by sympathetic looks, gasps, and a few mean spirited passing comments. But one comment stuck; "Hey, it's the Elephant Man"! Those words never left me, and what was meant as an insult became a gift that made me discover " The Elephant Man", a play by Bernard Pomerance. The relevance and power of his play continues to deepen four decades after its debut. Needless to say, I did not choose this play, oddly enough it chose me, and I am grateful."