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Post by NeilVHughes on Feb 23, 2019 18:34:29 GMT
Absolutely stunning, highly recommended, knew very little before seeing today, only it’s standing as a modern classic, will likely see again.
A play that is renowned for its nudity which takes away from what is an exceptional piece of writing. The minimal staging and excellent lighting enhance the atmosphere and the horse riding immediately before the interval is especially well done with Alan’s passion and communion with his God fully realised.
As Alan is freed from his deitistic passion to live the normal banal life expected to become a functioning member of society, the price as reflected in the psychiatrists and parents lives of a shallow Beckettian existence.
The perennial fundamentalist paradigm realised in an especially clever way.
Only half full for the matinee today which is a great shame as it will be difficult to find a better revival this year.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 24, 2019 10:17:42 GMT
I was also there yesterday and agree it is excellent. Felt much more intense than the Radcliffe version (possibly due to the smaller theatre) and also I got much more of a sense of Dysart being damaged too than I did with Richard Griffith's performance. Hadn't registered previously how dubious his methods are! eg hypnosis without warning, lying about drugs, etc One interesting change to the staging of the final scenes - Alan is naked but Jill isn't. Which actually doesn't make much sense given what's supposed to be happening at that point, although I guess the whole thing is being re-enacted by Alan and she's not really there. |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Feb 24, 2019 11:41:27 GMT
I got much more of a sense of Dysart being damaged too than I did with Richard Griffith's performance. Hadn't registered previously how dubious his methods are! eg hypnosis without warning, lying about drugs, etc Haha that's so true! I couldn't stop thinking that he should be thrown out of the profession. |
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Post by Fleance on Mar 2, 2019 22:35:40 GMT
The two productions I've seen (both on Broadway, more than thirty years apart) had conspicuous nudity. In the first, Alan was played by Peter Firth; in the second, by Daniel Radcliffe. The nudity is fairly integral, as it enhances the pagan nature of the scene. I knew Peter Shaffer -- I think he would be shocked by what this prudish age may be doing to his fine play.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 8:49:08 GMT
Why would he? As you will find if you read the thread the nudity is there and actually more exposing than in the Radcliffe version
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 9:45:53 GMT
The two productions I've seen (both on Broadway, more than thirty years apart) had conspicuous nudity. In the first, Alan was played by Peter Firth; in the second, by Daniel Radcliffe. The nudity is fairly integral, as it enhances the pagan nature of the scene. I knew Peter Shaffer -- I think he would be shocked by what this prudish age may be doing to his fine play. I don't know how much nudity you like but Ethan Kai is lolling about rather a lot without any clothes on in this production. More so than Harry Potter as I recall. He's brighter lit than the little wizard too. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 10:40:53 GMT
The two productions I've seen (both on Broadway, more than thirty years apart) had conspicuous nudity. In the first, Alan was played by Peter Firth; in the second, by Daniel Radcliffe. The nudity is fairly integral, as it enhances the pagan nature of the scene. I knew Peter Shaffer -- I think he would be shocked by what this prudish age may be doing to his fine play. I never met Peter Shaffer, but I bet he'd bother seeing a production - or at least read the thread about it properly - before criticising it for not doing something that it is in fact doing. |
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Post by schuttep on Mar 3, 2019 11:09:48 GMT
I though this was fine production - I liked the "white box" with curtains approach.
As has been said, Ethan Kai is a revelation (in more ways than one). The actors playing the horses were suitably athletic and horse-like in their movements and a wonderful change from previous productions.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 11:58:52 GMT
I agree about the portrayal of the horses. Doing it in the way they do in this production (particularly Nugget) makes the disturbing eroticism of the end of the first act all the more disturbing. And erotic.
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Post by Fleance on Mar 3, 2019 15:49:42 GMT
The two productions I've seen (both on Broadway, more than thirty years apart) had conspicuous nudity. In the first, Alan was played by Peter Firth; in the second, by Daniel Radcliffe. The nudity is fairly integral, as it enhances the pagan nature of the scene. I knew Peter Shaffer -- I think he would be shocked by what this prudish age may be doing to his fine play. I never met Peter Shaffer, but I bet he'd bother seeing a production - or at least read the thread about it properly - before criticising it for not doing something that it is in fact doing. My goodness, must one read a whole thread before commenting? How exhausting!! However, I did just go back and read the whole thread. I see others were similarly confused, hence this quote from another poster, after the nudity in the current production had already been mentioned: "And I suppose the question everyone wants to know the answer to...is there any nudity?" In any case, Ryan's response set me straight. Btw, there are archival recordings of both of the Firth and Radcliffe productions. Evidently the young woman in the Firth version did not want to appear on the night of the videotaping, so another actress stood in. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2019 17:23:30 GMT
While I wouldn't suggest reading say, the entire Wicked discussion thread before posting (I mean for one's own sanity perhaps also) in a thread 3 pages long, yeah I'd say give it a scroll. Especially when the answer was about 3 posts previous. Just polite isn't it? rather than repeating the same questions.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2019 15:33:40 GMT
In any case, Ryan's response set me straight. De rien. I often find that my responses generally have that effect with most people. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2019 16:05:49 GMT
I honestly can't remember seeing another version (I know I didn't see the Radcliffe), so I don't know if both actors are nude in that scene as written / originally performed? Yes in the Radcliffe version and in the first production of it I saw, (my parents took me to see it at our local theatre when I was 11 or 12  ), and in the film version. Agree with you it worked fine staged this way - Alan and Dysart are the only characters actually "there" in the scene. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2019 18:31:00 GMT
Btw, there are archival recordings of both of the Firth and Radcliffe productions. Evidently the young woman in the Firth version did not want to appear on the night of the videotaping, so another actress stood in. Reminds me of the NT Live versions of Frankenstein where Cumberbatch & Lee Miller wore Y-Fronts [1] in the early scenes as the monster. [1] May not actually have been Y-Fronts |
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Post by wickedgrin on Mar 6, 2019 9:06:16 GMT
This is a fine play - I cant believe it is 46 years old!
It is given a fine theatrical production here too. I loved the sound and lighting design and the minimal white curtained box setting. The staging of the horse riding at the end of act one with the physical use of the company, the billowing curtains, lighting, sound and smoke was stunning.
The performances I thought were a mixed bag. Working on a bare stage, while focusing attention on the characters is very exposing for actors without the anchors of chairs or tables.
Some actors seemed completely immersed in their roles and others less so.
Ethan Kai gives a very convincing wild, edgy and unpredictable performance as Alan Strang. A completely convincing portrayal of the stable owner by Keith Gilmore. A likeable and believable Jill (the girlfriend) by Norah Lopez Holden. The whole production nearly stolen, though, by Ira Mandela Siobhan as Nugget - the lead horse. A tremendous physical portrayal with huge stage presence both as the horse and a young arrogant horseman.
I was less satisfied with Zubin Varla as Dysart (yes I know he has just been nominated for an Olivier Award for Fun Home). I thought his portrayal was a little superficial - I didn't feel his pain. Less convincing too were Syreeta Kumar and Robert Fitch as Alans parents - although the roles are little cartoonish, but I think you have to find the truth in the characters.
I liked the portrayal of the horses (only missing the metal hoofs and heads initially) although with a small company of only 8 I missed the stable scenes when Alan is surrounded my horses staring at him. These images so central to the horses watching and the subsequent blinding. But the big pay off with how this production was staged was the sexual attraction and eroticism between Nugget and Alan throughout.
A brief word about the nudity. In previous productions Jill is naked with Alan too. It worked perfectly well here though as she isn't really "there".
Edited to add. A huge shout out to the staff at Stratford East Theatre from the box office to the ushers who were fabulous - friendly, helpful and welcoming.
4 stars for the show and 5 stars for the theatre staff!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2019 9:12:00 GMT
It is given a fine theatrical production here too. I loved the sound and lighting design and the minimal white curtained box setting. The staging of the horse riding at the end of act one with the physical use of the company, the billowing curtains, lighting, sound and smoke was stunning. Oh my yes, the end of Act 1 was absolutely dazzling. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2019 15:20:00 GMT
While I wouldn't suggest reading say, the entire Wicked discussion thread before posting (I mean for one's own sanity perhaps also) in a thread 3 pages long, yeah I'd say give it a scroll. Especially when the answer was about 3 posts previous. Just polite isn't it? rather than repeating the same questions. Confession; I once read the whole Wicked thread. I still don’t get the joke about 4th cover midwife. |
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Post by peterbrook on Mar 9, 2019 20:53:20 GMT
Saw the original Equus at the NT in 1973 and liked it. But not as much as I liked this wonderful performance this afternoon, which I found even more powerful than the original. It is rare for me to be satisfied with modern productions of plays that were new in the 1960s and 70s (Pinter, Stoppard, some P. Shaffer etc), so congratulations to all who were involved today.
Incidentally, the Tube journey to the theatre from central London was far easier than I had expected.
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Post by peterbrook on Mar 9, 2019 21:01:53 GMT
Correction to my previous post - before I am pulled up by someone! The original Equus was an NT production but performed in The Old Vic (before the NT building was opened).
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Post by joem on Mar 9, 2019 23:34:13 GMT
Good production of a play I am not quite sure about: the psychiatric element leaves me quite cold. I find the psychiatrist character, Dysart, pretty unconvincing although it has to be said Zubin Varla played him rather well here, his treacly voice and manner-switching from bullying to oleaginous got it down to a t. Cannot ignore the fine performance by Ethan Kai as the central character, troubled teenager Alan. Interesting how often Shaffer has these oppositional old/young male characters with the older men always getting the upper hand but finding their victories hollow.
The bare stage is more than compensated for by the excellent lighting/technical work and the movement which brings the "horse" sections to life splendidly. Ira Mandela Siobhan, in particular, was an impressively equine Nugget.
Lovely theatre. My first visit here probably the last major London theatre I hadn't visited. I hope to be back soon.
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 20, 2019 9:24:27 GMT
Enjoyed this last night from the centre of Row B (Row A is still there but not on sale). It is a high stage and you are a fair distance away, but you don't miss much.
It seemed reasonably full last night, although I did notice the man outside giving out tickets to a select group (I booked a paid ticket a few weeks ago for an insanely reasonable £10).
Nice theatre, my first time there. Also my first time ever seeing Equus. This is an excellent production, presented on a bare stage to the extent you can really focus on the character drama.
The row behind was taken by a school group and their teacher (who I presume was a drama teacher, as she thought that a 2 hour 40 minute show starting at 7:30pm would end at 10:40pm). She did rather spoiler the second half by going around all the children in the interval to warn them about nudity. I presume this is on a syllabus somewhere.
The nudity, incidentally, is tastefully done. The stage is dark, most of the scene is performed towards the back and Ethan Kai is not really trying to appeal to the size queens, so you only really get subtle glimpses. I notice he wore a very visible flesh coloured sleeve as well, in part to conceal his battery pack, but perhaps to hide a tattoo?
This is coming to the end of its run in Stratford, but touring until May. Definitely worth attending.
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Post by andrew on Mar 21, 2019 23:51:54 GMT
I wouldn't have seen this if not for the word of mouth on twitter and on here, and it was great, pleased to have seen a play I've heard so often about. I was particularly taken with the lighting design, I like some (literally) in-your-face lighting. And multicoloured disco raves. Great stuff.
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 23, 2019 20:31:20 GMT
I had a ticket for this a month ago, but the day I was going to see this, I became ‘indisposed’ and after a major operation, this ironically is the first show I saw on my return, which is terrific despite a unsettling story line, high production values, where all the creatives seems to have clicked, be a shame if this doesn’t go into the West End, I though exactly the same for Sheffield Theatres’ production on Frost/Nixon and said as much on here, that didn’t happen and hope this doesn’t suffer the same fate.
4 Stars
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Post by Rory on Mar 23, 2019 21:49:11 GMT
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 25, 2019 18:35:43 GMT
Yes I am thanks for asking, nothing like a good piece of theatre for good convalescence. Got a bit of catching up to do. Complete contrast to a month ago, when I had to have an emergency laparotomy and I nearly didn’t make it. |
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), and in the film version. Agree with you it worked fine staged this way - Alan and Dysart are the only characters actually "there" in the scene.
