EQUUS.
London
EQUUS
by Peter Shaffer
Gielgud Theatre To 9 June 2007
Mom-Sat 7.30pm Mat Wed & Sat 2,30pm
Runs 2hr 30min One interval
TICKETS: 0870 950 0915
www.equustheplay.com (£1.50 booking fee per ticket by ‘phone or online)
Review: Timothy Ramsden 1 March
Shaffer and Sharrock play a blinder.
Peter Shaffer did well to call his 1973 play by the Latin name for a horse. It has plenty of classical allusions, though to Greek rather than Latin civilisation.
Experienced, apparently successful hospital psychologist Martin Dysart is persuaded by a magistrate friend to squeeze another case onto his overloaded books. Exploring what led teenage Alan Strang to blind 6 horses, Dysart questions polite modern civilisation as against the Ancient Greeks’ accounting for primitive passions, culminating in a surefire summation of ersatz culture.
Shaffer’s contrast between Alan’s adolescent feelings, the self-control of an educated elder and the constrained, hypocritical middle-class resemble David Rudkin’s contemporary TV play Penda’s Fen, while, as in Amadeus, Shaffer covers any dubious argument with theatrical excitement and skilful dialogue.
The gap between 1973 and 2007 shows in minor ways, like Alan’s advertising jingles (The Milky-Bar Kid?), more importantly in the social savagery that now makes it unlikely Dysart, or even a magistrate, would be so shocked by Alan’s crime (horrified, yes; but not shocked).
Curtain-call enthusiasm confirmed the Potteristas were out in force. They made an attentive audience, and their hero Daniel Radcliffe, ex-Hogwarts alumnus, deserved their cheers. His Alan is confrontational, switching to flat cooperation without explanation – rightly; reason isn’t playing much part in Alan’s mind.
It would be nice to think some acclamation was for co-star Richard Griffiths’ fine performance. If Radcliffe is a modern teenager in his easy aggression, Griffiths is the opposite of Dysart’s creator, Alec McCowan. He was all spontaneity, thought taking on passion. By contrast, Griffiths comments as if Dysart’s mind has already considered every possibility.
Director Thea Sharrock, not born when the play premiered, marshals events well. John Napier also designed in ‘73. Here again is the minimal set, the wire-mesh horse-heads donned by actors, though I don’t recall the piercing lights shining from their eyes at the climax; possibly a technological advance.
Napier’s set, with the shafts of David Hersey’s lighting, allows swift movement between the locations recalled by Dysart, who tells the story. Equus is a large-scale play, in cast and scope. This new production matches its challenge.
Martin Dysart: Richard Griffiths
Alan Strang: Daniel Radcliffe
Frank Strang: Jonathan Cullen
Dora Strang: Gabrielle Reidy
Hesther Saloman: Jenny Agutter
Harry Dalton: Colin Haigh
Young Horseman/Nugget: Will Kemp
Nurse: Karen Meagher
Horses: Joel Corpuz, Jami Reid-Quarrell, Greig Cooke, Temujin Gill, Jonathan Readwin
Director: Thea Sharrock
Designer: John Napier
Lighting: David Hersey
Sound: Gregory Clarke
Movement: Fin Walker
Associate Costume: Elise Napier
Assistant director: Rachel Russell
2007-03-05 01:24:16