Alan Sutterfield plays John Merrick in "The Elephant Man," presented by ASATAD at the Little Theatre at Windward Community College. Chris Lowe plays his shadow. Photo by Kathryn Bender, Star-Bulletin

Which is why in the original play of "The Elephant Man," about the grotesquely deformed John Merrick of London, the man's malady was merely suggested by a slide show, while in the film of the same material, actor John Hurt wore big piles of foam rubber painted to look real.

ASATAD's production of "The Elephant Man" goes back to the subtle suggestions of the stage. Alan Sutterfield plays Merrick without a trace of rubber, using instead posture and attitude. Director Jonel Langenfeld-Rial calls it "body manipulation," but she's also using techniques of shadow puppetry to illuminate Merrick's external torments.

"In addition to wonderful period costumes, London fog on stage and live, original violin music by Rich McKinney - it's very realistic that way - we have shadow-screen panels behind Alan in which actors portray the Elephant Man's emotional reactions," said Langenfeld-Rial.

All the actors who aren't on stage at the moment draw Elephant-Man shadow-duty. The effect is also used to suggest crowd scenes at a carnival and the unsettling dreams of the characters.

"Shadow-casting is definitely an art form and can be quite touching is done right," said Langenfeld-Rial, who had seen the original Bernard Pomerance drama on stage a number of times and always wondered if it could be done differently.

"Once you realize what's happening with the shadows, it frees you to look at the human being inside, the real person, unencumbered by the shadows - the shadows that follow us all," said Langenfeld-Rial.

"The Elephant Man" contains partial nudity and has mature themes.

Opens: 8 p.m. tomorrow, running 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays through July 7
Where: Windward Community College Little Theatre
Cost: $12
Call: 247-6939