Comments on: Equus by Peter Shaffer

By: Jacob McP.

Jacob McP. — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 04:34:27 +0000

I realize this blog posting is now about 4 years old, but I came across it searching for EQUUS by Peter Shaffer.

I live in Hawaii and am very active in local theater. I just portrayed Dysart in a university production here, and I am reeling from the experience. I’ve been acting for over 40 years and have had some life-changing experiences on stage, yet this play embraced me. It gave me a new found worship for my passion of theatrical arts.

I happen to have a degree related to classics, so the imagery was particularly poignant for Dysart’s lines, and I would, indeed, “like to spend 10 years wandering very slowly around the real Greece.”

What strikes me most about the script is the relationship that builds between Dysart and Alan. The doctor eviscerates himself to bring normality to the boy. In the penultimate scene, the boy chooses to rid himself of his god, and then in the ultimate scene, the doctor chooses the Normal world over one of Worship.

I am very lucky for the opportunity to voice Dysart’s lines by the great Peter Shaffer. “I can hear the creature’s voice. It’s calling me out of the black cave of the Psyche.” The experience will never leave me.

By: sharon meyer

sharon meyer — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:38:11 +0000

The original cast at the Old Vic did indeed feature a very young Colin Firth as the young lead.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:22:50 +0000

Saw the Broadway (Broadhurst) version this past January, it was fantastic. I was very familiar with the script, having read it several times, and I thought that the 2009 production was incredible. I found out later that Shaffer had personally done the script editting for the performances, which was pretty cool. My college is performing the show this season for the 20th anniversary of our main stage, it was the first play ever performed on College of Charleston’s stage in the Simons Center for the Arts.

By: davee

davee — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 17:02:03 +0000

has anyone seen the broadway version (at the broadhurst) – curious how it compares the ones reviewed above.

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 30 May 2008 11:36:28 +0000

I’d meant to post the link, so thanks.

An old (BBC?) production of “Sredni Vashtar” is available in three parts on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KreX8PtbZWM

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:04:29 +0000

I'm rereading the play now. I'm wondering if Sir Peter knows HH Munro's short story "Sredni Vashtar." A sardonic little tale with a much different tone and theme, but the two works do share a common thread. jb says: Interesting comments, Christine. I'd never put them together before, but I see your point. Saki's short story is online here.

By: Stephen Hopkins

Stephen Hopkins — Tue, 27 May 2008 22:39:05 +0000

Saw the play at Richmond theatre on Saturday nght. An amazing theatrical experience, thoroughly absorbing and gripping.

jb says: Hi Stephen. It’s so good to share things.

By: Christine

Christine — Tue, 27 May 2008 00:46:34 +0000

I’m so glad this is coming to Broadway: I just ordered December tickets for my 15 y/o daughter and me. Saw it a few times here in NYC the 1970s and sat on the stage all but one: Hopkins, Perkins and Burton were “my” Dysarts, and Peter Firth and Thomas Hulce were the Alans. Moments of those productions still resonate. I think it’s good that Radcliffe is avoiding watching the film version, which for me did not compare.

jb says: You’ll enjoy it, Christine, though you certainly have some moments to compare it with.