Equus

Wednesday 28th February 2007, Evening Performance
Gielgud Theatre

The revival of Peter Shaffer’s Equus has received a massive amount of publicity in the news that Alan Strang, one of the plays main characters, is to be performed by Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, a seventeen year old that, as part of the role, appears in one scene fully nude. Along side Radcliffe as the psychiatrist Martin Dysart is Richard Griffiths, in his first stage role since winning Olivier and Tony awards for Best Dramatic Actor for his performance in The History Boys.

What’s it about?
Equus is the story of psychiatrist Martin Dysart, in his attempts to understand the hideous actions of seventeen-year-old Alan Strang (Radcliffe), a young man who has only recently blinded six horses who he cared for. At the same time as treating Alan, Martin Dysart begins to question his own beliefs and sense of being.

What’s good?
Equus is an intense psychological thriller that divulges deep into the minds of the characters. A task which Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths handle with great skill, they are assisted by an incredibly designed minimalist set and intriguing costumes from John Napier, eerily atmospheric lighting from David Hersey and superb direction from Thea Sharrock.

What’s bad?
Equus suffers, however, from the depths and intense nature that Shaffer’s script divulges into. Such detail making it hard for the audience to completely follow at times.


Overall
With that said however, Equus is a truly brilliant revival. The biggest shock being the skill that Radcliffe posses’ as an actor against a performer such as Griffiths. I would in fact be very surprised if the quality of their performances does not lead to Olivier nominations for both, with Griffiths almost certain to surely claim a second Olivier award in as many years.