Equus
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Cititour.com Review
From its ritualistic beginning to its shocking climax, Peter Shaffer’s turbulent drama Equus is as powerful an evening in the theatre today as it was when it first appeared over 30 years ago. The revival — a British transplant — which stars Richard Griffiths (The History Boys) as the psychiatrist and Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe (in his Broadway debut) as the troubled boy, is a stunning production brilliantly directed by Thea Sharrock.
Threaded with religious symbols and biblical references, Shaffer’s play mingles images of hero worship and sexual desire with an adolescent’s sense of guilt and longing. Not as much a psychological game of cat-and-mouse as a discovery of one’s inner demons, Equus delves into the effect that the relationship with the boy has on his savior. In trying to help Alan, the traumatized 17-year-old who has blinded a stable of horses, Dr. Dysart struggles with disappointment that his own life is devoid of the kind of passion that Alan so aggressively possesses.
Radcliffe gives an astonishing performance. At only 18, the actor inhabits the tortured soul of the distressed boy with a sense of purpose. His Alan fidgets with nervous energy, screams with frustration and positions himself in defiance, desperate to hide how frightened he actually is. Griffiths places a calm, open demeanor about the psychiatrist when he’s treating the boy, but his own inner fears reveal themselves when consulting with his superior, played with even fortitude by Kate Mulgrew.
The remaining cast makes a strong showing, including T. Ryder Smith and Carolyn McCormick as Alan’s parents, and a supporting cast portraying mostly silent, but incredibly expressive, horses, featuring delicate movement created by Fin Walker.
John Napier’s set of open platforms and stable doors is beautifully accented by David Hersey’s textured lighting and the production is punctuated by the power of Gregory Clarke’s sound design.
Equus is a fascinating study of the human mind and spirit, and if conventional therapy has changed since the play first debuted, it has little impact on the power of this production because the performances are so perfectly delivered.
By Lesley Alexander
Cast
Richard Griffiths, Daniel Radcliffe, Kate Mulgrew, Anna Camp, Carolyn McCormick, Lorenzo Pisoni,
T. Ryder Smith, Graeme Malcolm, Sandra Shipley, Collin Baja, Tyrone Jackson, Spencer Liff, Adesola Osakalumi, Marc Spaulding
Open/Close Dates
Opening 9/5/2008
Closing 2/8/2009
Box Office
(212) 239-6200
Theatre Info
Broadhurst Theatre
235 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
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