![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
emmagrant01Okay, so I'm late to the game here, but I FINALLY got to see Equus in London on Monday night. I say finally because that was the THIRD set of tickets we bought. The first pair were given away when our trip was rearranged the first time, and the second pair just went to waste when the trip got rearranged the second time. (They were box office pickup only, and we weren't there to pick them up.) We had one last chance to route ourselves through London on the way home, and I begged and pleaded MDH to let us do it. (He voted for Sydney, Australia, which ordinarily would have been a no-brainer, but I figured this was my last chance. This is before I found out it would be coming to Broadway. But anyway...)
So Monday night we finally got to see it, and we drank many pints beforehand so as not to be reminded of how much we'd actually paid for all of those tickets that we didn't use. MDH is quite understanding, really. I'm a sucker for celebrities onstage, and I've dragged him to see many of them. I made him go see Liam Neeson in The Crucible (and he hates Miller), Ewan McGregor in Guys and Dolls (twice), and Christian Slater in several different things. That particular marketing trick works on me, I have to admit. ;-)
First, I should say that I was involved in a production of Equus as a teenager, but all I remembered about it was spending hours and hours making the horse heads. The set designer had created a model horse head based on pictures from the original production, and I was handed this model, a bunch of wire and some pliers, and told to make five more. I recruited a couple of other folks to help, but ended up making about three of the heads myself, and actually enjoyed doing it. At any rate, my memory of the production centers around the construction and care of those horse heads, and little else.
So it was very pleasant to get a chance to just watch the play and think about what it was really about. I'm sure I didn't really get it all those years ago, except for this idea that this kid Alan worshiped horses to a debilitating extent. And I was surprised how powerful and fascinating the play really is.
I expected to be impressed by both Richard Griffiths and Daniel Radcliffe, and I was. Both of them were really fantastic. Dan surprised me with his intensity and anger, and with the way he managed to keep both of those bubbling just under the surface the entire time. He really embodied the role physically in a way I wasn't expecting. He is an actor, absolutely, and I think he'll have a career. Good for him.
But I have to say it was Richard Griffiths whose performance really blew me away. The man deserves his Tony, no doubt about it. He brought out nuances in the dialogue that were surprising, and the way he slowly but surely lost control of his objectivity was masterful. I was crying at the end, well after Alan's re-enactment, solely because of the impact it had on Griffiths's character Dysart. His monologue at the end just killed me, really.
I also have to comment on the nude scene, of course. When I was involved in that production all those years ago, we didn't do the nudity. Alan and Jill stripped down to underwear, and at the time I thought it was enough. MDH and I had joked that the nude scene was entirely prurient and there for box office draw, that it wasn't necessary. But after seeing it, I think it is necessary, really. It's a metaphor for the way Alan is stripping down his barriers at the end, slowly revealing his secret world. It also lends a sense of the primal, and it's so powerful in the way it adds a layer of discomfort for the audience that heightens the emotions in the room. Finally, the scene hints at a rebirth for Alan, as he finishes in a fetal position and is covered with a cloth. It really is masterful, when you think about it.
But I also have to say that there were four people sitting in the row in front of me who were obviously fen, and they were frankly obnoxious. At the end of the first act when Dan strips off his shirt, they all had their cameras out and were giggling, then grumbled when he didn't take it all off. When he was finally naked at the end, they were making all sorts of noise, and it was all I could do not to whap them on the head and tell them to STFU. I'm sure they weren't the first and won't be the last, but really, if you're watching this play and all you can look at during the last scene is Dan's dick, you've missed the whole point. And if those folks are reading this by some chance and wondering if I'm talking about them, I am. Please grow the fuck up, kthnx, and stop making the rest of us fen look bad.
Overall, it was great to get a chance to see it. I don't know if it was worth all the money we ended up paying for all those tickets, but I'm glad we went. :-)
So Monday night we finally got to see it, and we drank many pints beforehand so as not to be reminded of how much we'd actually paid for all of those tickets that we didn't use. MDH is quite understanding, really. I'm a sucker for celebrities onstage, and I've dragged him to see many of them. I made him go see Liam Neeson in The Crucible (and he hates Miller), Ewan McGregor in Guys and Dolls (twice), and Christian Slater in several different things. That particular marketing trick works on me, I have to admit. ;-)
First, I should say that I was involved in a production of Equus as a teenager, but all I remembered about it was spending hours and hours making the horse heads. The set designer had created a model horse head based on pictures from the original production, and I was handed this model, a bunch of wire and some pliers, and told to make five more. I recruited a couple of other folks to help, but ended up making about three of the heads myself, and actually enjoyed doing it. At any rate, my memory of the production centers around the construction and care of those horse heads, and little else.
So it was very pleasant to get a chance to just watch the play and think about what it was really about. I'm sure I didn't really get it all those years ago, except for this idea that this kid Alan worshiped horses to a debilitating extent. And I was surprised how powerful and fascinating the play really is.
I expected to be impressed by both Richard Griffiths and Daniel Radcliffe, and I was. Both of them were really fantastic. Dan surprised me with his intensity and anger, and with the way he managed to keep both of those bubbling just under the surface the entire time. He really embodied the role physically in a way I wasn't expecting. He is an actor, absolutely, and I think he'll have a career. Good for him.
But I have to say it was Richard Griffiths whose performance really blew me away. The man deserves his Tony, no doubt about it. He brought out nuances in the dialogue that were surprising, and the way he slowly but surely lost control of his objectivity was masterful. I was crying at the end, well after Alan's re-enactment, solely because of the impact it had on Griffiths's character Dysart. His monologue at the end just killed me, really.
I also have to comment on the nude scene, of course. When I was involved in that production all those years ago, we didn't do the nudity. Alan and Jill stripped down to underwear, and at the time I thought it was enough. MDH and I had joked that the nude scene was entirely prurient and there for box office draw, that it wasn't necessary. But after seeing it, I think it is necessary, really. It's a metaphor for the way Alan is stripping down his barriers at the end, slowly revealing his secret world. It also lends a sense of the primal, and it's so powerful in the way it adds a layer of discomfort for the audience that heightens the emotions in the room. Finally, the scene hints at a rebirth for Alan, as he finishes in a fetal position and is covered with a cloth. It really is masterful, when you think about it.
But I also have to say that there were four people sitting in the row in front of me who were obviously fen, and they were frankly obnoxious. At the end of the first act when Dan strips off his shirt, they all had their cameras out and were giggling, then grumbled when he didn't take it all off. When he was finally naked at the end, they were making all sorts of noise, and it was all I could do not to whap them on the head and tell them to STFU. I'm sure they weren't the first and won't be the last, but really, if you're watching this play and all you can look at during the last scene is Dan's dick, you've missed the whole point. And if those folks are reading this by some chance and wondering if I'm talking about them, I am. Please grow the fuck up, kthnx, and stop making the rest of us fen look bad.
Overall, it was great to get a chance to see it. I don't know if it was worth all the money we ended up paying for all those tickets, but I'm glad we went. :-)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 03:39 pm (UTC)I'm glad you had fun! :)
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 03:46 pm (UTC)UGH, GOD I hate people like that. Fen or not, seriously, do NOT go to a LIVE PERFORMANCE and act like a bunch of grade schoolers. It's very distracting to be onstage and have to deal with reactions like that, and it's just plain disrespectful. If you're watching a movie where Dan strips down and you want to giggle about it, that's one thing, but when he can HEAR you? Not on. Not on at all. -__o
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:37 pm (UTC)It's so disrespectful to the actor, absolutely.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 03:50 pm (UTC)My favourite things were the horses, though: the masks and their movements brought out the almost mystical/religious aspect of what they represented for Alan (and Dysart). The set and the use of lights were equally very impressive.
I'm surprised about your fen experience. When I went the only time cameras came out was at curtain call and they were immediately shut down by the ushers. And they were watching out like hawks for phone cameras at the end of the first act and during the sex scene, so no one even tried (thank god for that!). I can understand your annoyance.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:41 pm (UTC)I was surprised by my fen experience too, to be honest. I'd heard that the audiences had been fantastic, and that ushers would fan out into the aisles to look for cameras during the nude scene. I didn't see them do it that night, though of course, my attention was riveted on the stage. ;-)
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 04:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 04:07 pm (UTC)I was impressed by Dan and I agree that he'll have a good career ahead of him. He was really talented and brave. But the rest of the cast was good, too, and the play was just so powerful and well done. Definitely an exerience to remember. :)
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:43 pm (UTC)MDH kept talking afterwards about how brave it was of Dan to do this part. Not just because of the nude scene (though that's a big part of it) but also because it's such an intense and raw role. If he'd not done well, it would have really showed.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 04:11 pm (UTC)I'm thoroughly disgusted by what you're describing in terms of the behavior of the fans. I remember when Randy Harrison was doing the same role (in the Berkshires) a couple of years (?) back, my concern was the same - the disrespect issue is huge. I think that on some level, the fans don't think that the actor can actually see or hear them, but hello? They can! And they remember, too. I actually cancelled a trip to see the play (and consequently never saw it) because I knew I would be going with fans of this "caliber" and didn't want to be lumped in with them, so I'm totally with you on the disgust-o-meter.
I'm glad you had a good time otherwise, regardless, and that you were impressed by both Daniel and Richard. I've heard it's a great show, and if this cast makes it to Broadway, I'll make every effort to go.
♥ ♥
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:45 pm (UTC)I remember hearing about Randy doing that role, actually. I think I would've gone to see it anyway, but yeah, it only takes a few immature fen to make the whole thing less than pleasant.
If it makes it to Broadway, I'd love to go again!
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 04:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 04:46 pm (UTC)Too bad about the annoying audience members, though. When I saw it during the preview week, I swear you could have heard a pin drop during that scene.
I'm seeing it again in two weeks, and I'm really looking forward to seeing how they've settled into their roles and polished things up since February.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:50 pm (UTC)It'll be interesting to see what you think the difference is between then and now. :-)
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 04:59 pm (UTC)I AM glad, though, that you finally got to see it. :D
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 05:06 pm (UTC)Fortunately both times I've been there haven't been any fen, though two members of staff were talking about a group who'd held up a banner the night before *sighs*.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 05:10 pm (UTC)During my second showing and later when I got home and went through the text of the play, I could really see it clearly.
Alan's first encounter with a horse was with the good-looking college-chap who he had bonded with. His father ripping him off the horse and stopping him from enjoying it. His close, but unhealthy relationship with his mother and inability to bond with his father. His sexual obsession with the horses representing his true desire to have someone who is considered unnatural. The scene with Jill - unable to have sex with a girl because "Equus" is looking over his shoulder. And even the statement made by Dysart after the final breakdown scene, "You can now touch approved flesh" (or something close to that.)
It was such a powerful play and it was amazing to see it from the stalls and the stage.
I agree Griffiths is amazing. I think that speaks a lot about Dan too. Griffiths is a trained and experienced theater actor and Dan held his own on that stage. I think that's a hard thing to do.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:57 pm (UTC)It's fantastic that you got to see it multiple times and had a chance to really think about the themes of the play. :-)
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 05:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:04 pm (UTC)you HAVE to see this..
idunno if the japanese faces will tell you much - those are japanese VERY slashable boy band, cant sing but look nice it's just MWAHHAHA ehemm
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f32/matsujen/Akame.jpg
the usual routine of the boys... it's just..
OK maybe funny only for me, but still .. yeah..
went into hiding^^;
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 07:00 pm (UTC)And thanks!
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 06:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 07:03 pm (UTC)I just love seeing famous people act on stage, regardless of the role, you know? In addition to the ones listed in my post above, one of my favorite ever experiences was seeing Luke Perry play Brad in The Rocky Horror Show on Broadway a few years back. The audience was heckling him with 90210 jokes, and at one point he actually broke character and started laughing. It was fantastic to see him having so much fun in that part. :-D
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 07:00 pm (UTC)I echo everyone else's thoughts about the annoying fen. Boo hiss on them. There were quite a few there when I went actually, because one of the shows I saw was the Wed matinee and there was a large group of high school aged kids there (might have been on a school theatre trip or something). Luckily, I was in the fourth row in the stalls and they were in the dress circle, so I didn't hear them, but I'm sure they were causing a ruckus at some point. The first night I saw it, there wasn't any of that at all; although, the girl next to me decided it was time to discuss the merits of Will Kemp's physique when he and Dan first came on stage at the beginning of the play. I shooshed her pretty quick!
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 07:06 pm (UTC)The horse heads are incredibly cool. They really make the production, IMO.
I hadn't heard any other reports of annoying fen, but I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by it. Sadly. :-P
(no subject)
From:(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 07:19 pm (UTC)It bloody well hurt, but it was worth it.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 08:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 08:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 08:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 09:33 pm (UTC)Otherwise, yes... I hate the little nitwits who talk through movies and plays, text message and otherwise act as if they're in their own living room. I fantasize about carrying a super soaker in my purse...
Thrilled you got to see the play. I've only seen the Richard Burton version, myself. And three cheers for Dan pulling it off. I sooo would not like him to be a casualty of all his early fame and fortune like so many "child stars."
no subject
Date: 2007-05-11 02:29 am (UTC)Fen has the alternate and RL meaning of an inland area of low-lying marshy land; i.e. - a swamp to Americans.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-10 10:57 pm (UTC)I always hate that class of people that dont know how to behave in a theatre... it is a lack of respect to the people who are there and to the actor.... =S
kisses!
Meli
no subject
Date: 2007-05-11 12:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-11 02:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-11 03:01 am (UTC)I did worry, as soon as I realized about the nude scene, that there would be giggly girls (and prolly a few boys) sitting right up front, fucking it up for everyone. Don't they realize how distracting that must be for the performer? Jee-zus. I hope they do come across your blog, quite honestly.
Thanks for the review, here's hoping I get to see it stateside, and that Dan travels with it!
no subject
Date: 2007-05-11 03:14 am (UTC)(I saw Crucible too, because of Liam. I'd seen him in an Oscar Wilde play a few years earlier and enjoyed him, but didn't really enjoy Crucible. Of course, that was the same weekend I saw Alan Rickman in Private Lives so I may have been...distracted!)