Peter Shaffer has passed

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 11:53am

https://twitter.com/AP/status/739845054861344768

 

Seeing Equus remains among the most powerful experiences I've ever had in the theatre. RIP. 

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 12:08pm

What a loss, he was such a brilliant and versatile playwright

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 12:14pm

A remarkable man who greatly influenced 20th century theatre. One of Shaffer's most valuable gifts was recognizing the importance of collaboration, and he was smart enough to entrust his works to genius directors like John Dexter and Peter Hall, among others, who made his ideas and words into extraordinary theatrical experiences.   Though in truth, my opinion of the writing on the page of EQUUS and AMADEUS has diminished a bit over the years, those original productions were landmark achievements.  A brilliant long career.

 

 

Updated On: 6/6/16 at 12:14 PM

[groucho797]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 12:46pm

And yet both shows were integral to my appreciation of the power of theatre. I acknowledge his passing with deepest respect.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 12:56pm

Had the pleasure of driving him back to his hotel after a perfomane of EQUUS out here at the John. Drew Theater a few summers ago. He was a true gentleman. May he rest in peace.

Updated On: 6/6/16 at 12:56 PM

[A Director]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 12:58pm

Queen Alice,  How did Peter Shaffer greatly influence 20th century theatre?  From my point of view, he did not!

[QueenAlice]

Posted: 6/6/16 at 2:02pm

A Director:  Both the original productions of EQUUS and AMADEUS were landmark achievements in their time. They were (particularly as pieces of Broadway entertainment) abstract, outside the box and huge critical and financial successes.  His influence I would say is less in the influence of his writing (though many writers in the 70s and 80s imitated his intrigue) than the influence of his productions which pushed the button on what could be viable as commercial theatre.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/7/16 at 1:14pm

How i loved Lettice and Lovage.... why they never made this into a film, I'll never know!