The media’s had a field day with the Potter puns, but all joking aside, Daniel Radcliffe’s transition from dorky, ill-treated young wizard, to freaky yet perfectly formed 17 year old is a more impressive stunt than when he first rode a broomstick.
This isn’t the first time Equus has had tongues (and other parts) wagging. Written in 1973 by Peter Schaffer it’s a dark, moving tale about one boy’s sexual confusion in the face of his mother’s hardcore Christianity, and how an obsession with horses weaves its way into his fantasies, resulting in disasterous actions. Alan Strang might well need an ‘e’ on the end of his surname, and it’s up to his sullen, psycho-babbling therapist (the excellent Richard Griffiths) to figure out what could possibly cause a 17 year old boy to viciously blind six horses.
Aside from ogling a naked Harry Potter – a scene that’s sold almost as many seats as his series of movies, the play Equus inspires a younger generation to explore the 60’s guru spun philosophy that the mentally ill display a passion withheld by the unfortunate sane, and an insight denied to all but a special few. It’s all a load of rubbish, obviously, but Richard Griffith’s fabulous performance as Strang’s almost admiring advisor makes you think that, perhaps, there’s something in the boys actions other than raging hormones and lust for a horny stable-girl.
Griffiths of course, played alongside Radcliffe as his evil Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter films, so the two are proper chums, as was evident at the end of the show when they embraced as they walked off the stage. As he did in his role as the teacher in The History Boys, he gives a rather dry performance, and peppers the scripted dialogue with his unique wit and charm. The funny moments however, are few and far between, and the simple set, featuring just a few boxes and a set of stable doors, combined with moody lighting serve to deliver a totally unsettling 90 minutes. In a good way, of course.
The horses themselves are portrayed by toned, ballet-dancer-esque men in tight brown clothing, each carrying a huge, wire-framed head. They move their large, metallic hooves just as horses would and the gentle bowing of their heads throughout convey excellently the manner of the actual animals. All of this of course, adds to the horror of the final scene, where Daniel’s violent thrashing amidst a shower of flashing lights is an "edge-of-the-seat" spectacular.
Equus is one of those plays that stays with you long after you’ve seen it – and not just for the shocking nudity of one of Britain’s best young stars. Even so, Radcliffe’s impressive stage debut marks the start of an inevitable onslaught of acting opportunities. The world’s favourite wizard has truly grown up and as this muscular, mature actor casts his magic, prowling the stage, fists clenched, naked torso glistening in the spotlights, it’s plain to see our beloved little Harry couldn’t be further away from Hogwarts.
Review by Becky Wicks
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Posted by: | 20/07/2007 at 05:38 AM
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Posted by: | 20/07/2007 at 05:38 AM