equus

[once a month]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 9:46am

Riedel had an article today about a new revival of Equus opening in London and starring Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe). I didn't see the original production however I have seen it on the west coast. It was remarkable. It was fascinating, thought provoking and somehow weirdly erotic. I consider it in the same category as M Butterfly, Indiscretians and The Goat Who Is Sylvia. I found these dramas totally absorbing, and hope that Equus finds its way back to Broadway.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 11:16am

I am impressed that Harry Potter is going to go the full monty on stage. Great show and I think with the right cast a Broadway revival would be great.

[ILoveMyDictionary]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 11:51am

Yea, what he said. How many unknowing parents do you think are going to take their children to see this because Harry Potter is in it? They'll be in for a rude surprise.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 12:47pm

You know I think he is a great actor and that he would great in this. It's an incredible play that i have never seen performed but would love to and I think that he really suprise people by going on a limb and doing a role like this. I think it would be hilarious to have Harry Potter freaks come into the theater and be shocked. I'd die to see the facail reactions.

*as a side story to share what an evil person I am :) I had a girl in my sociology class that was SOO annoying and a pain in everyones side. She was one of those over acheivers that lets you know that they are # 1 in the class and the smartest (think Reese Whiterspoon with the cute appeal...ugly and so annoying). Her real big thing that she would always brag about was that she was the best horse breeder and trainer around. Seriously, she was OBSESSED with horses and somehow dragged it into EVERY sociology discussion...the whole class just hated her. The end of the year came and she was graduating. She was also one of those people who thought that everyone loved and was her friend so she invites a bunch of us to her grad party...I had to give her Equus! I had to...just for all the headaches she gave me in class. So I found a really old copy at a thrift store that just had critic's quotes on the back and no plot summary. It was perfect! I went to her party, handed it to her and told her that I hadn't read it but that it was supposed to be a beautiful play and I thought that it was a perfect gift b/c I love theater and she loves horses. She was so suprised and thankful that I ALMOST felt bad...
Cut to two weeks later I got a call from her just screaming and crying shouting about what an asshole I am and that I'm going to hell and that the big was sin (she's a crazy conservative Christain too) I just laughed and hung up. It was soo fun and I called up my friends and we laughed and laughed and laughed.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:12pm

You mean a "Nude" surprise!

[alwy15]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:21pm

im praying to judy above that daniel radcliffe doesn't destroy this beautiful play.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:24pm

I don't think he will...I think he's a lot better actor than what Harry Potter allows him to show. I love the play too and I think (probably more of a hope) that he can pull it off

Updated On: 7/27/06 at 01:24 PM

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:34pm

This rumor has been circulating since last December. I'm not sure how true it really is. At the time his reps. denied it. Also when it first cropped up Warner Bros. also denied it because of the filming schedule. Assuming that Harry Potter 5 actually finishes on time, when exactly is he supposed to rehearse for it? I mean, the film is shooting through the end of the year. Plus, he wasn't very comfortable doing the bath scene in Goblet of Fire, so I can't imagine he'd want to appear nude live on stage.

That said, I'm not sure he should do it. I remember a few years ago that actor who was on Blues Clues got a lot of flack for doing an episode of Law & Order, and subsequently his contract wasn't renewed. It could have an impact on the box office if there are enough parents who protest (because you know it will be in all the media outlets). I'm not saying it will, but it could.
Updated On: 7/27/06 at 01:34 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 2:34pm

I'm sure there is some truth to the rumor, but it seems that Daneil is pretty wrapped up in making the Harry Potter films. I don't think he gets much time off from them. Since he's rapidley growing, as is the rest of the cast, they have to continue production. I love this play though. I did a scene from Christopher Durang's "Beyond Therapy" and my character says something about Equus, so I went and read the play and I fell in love with it. It's great and absurd and brillant.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 2:49pm

There may have been a speculative casting ("this is who we'd like to get"), but as I said, when it first came up, it was denied by Warner Bros. and Radcliffe's reps. Perhaps circumstances have changed? He definitely won't be in it long if it is true, since he'll have to start publicity on Harry Potter in May.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 2:59pm

I think he'd be great!

And gustof, that's something to tell your grandkids! (or grandnephews!)

[philcrosby]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 3:21pm

It would be bloody brilliant casting if true, but I doubt the law (or propriety) would let Mr. Radcliffe appear fully nude in public prior to reaching legal adulthood on his 18th birthday.

He is certainly actor enough to handle the role.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 3:23pm

"He is certainly actor enough to handle the role."


Ha, what? "Actor enough"? ha.

[Footlooser]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 3:44pm

I think it is only 17 in England

[Fosse76]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 5:15pm

"I think it is only 17 in England"

I'm not so sure. I think it's 18 there as well (they do, however, have younger age-of-consent laws).

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 5:27pm

Maybe he will use his invisibilty cloak during the nude scenes so Hermoine does not have a cow

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 5:48pm

Yep, just on the lower half. That should solve all the problems.

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:11pm

Funny but the film version was on our BRAVO Tv just last night and I watched it.

Richard Burton, even at the end of his career, was still amazing. (He had taken over the role of the Dr for several months on Broadway in 1976. Also Leonard Nimoy played the role in the final months.) But the film is a mess. This is a perfect example of where the realism demanded by film runs counter to the text.

Perhaps if the revival is a success HBO will do a proper video of the play.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:21pm

More likely the BBC or Channel 4. HBO seems to have gotten out of the play business (even Showtime has produced more in the last few years than HBO).

Some have said Burton was the best of the Dysarts on Broadway (which is one of the reasons they gave him a Special Tony for the performance -- which live on air he promptly gave to his Alan Strang in that production, Keith McDermott).

Griffiths should be ideal. We'll see if Radcliffe has the chops for Strang -- it's a very emotionally and physically demanding role (far more of challenge than what he's had to do in the Potter films).

[Emilia]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:33pm

In the uk legal 'adulthood' is in fact 18, but as pointed out the age of consent is younger( 16) though I'm not sure what impact this has on nudity on stage.

I personally think Radcliffe would be great in this role, though perhaps it would be better for his career to wait until after Harry Potter is done and dusted then do something as dramatically different as this, that said I'd still see it!

[Tom1071]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:35pm

I have to say that this one of my favorite plays. I was lucky enough to be able to be part of an outstanding production about 8 years ago. I would love for this to come to Broadway.

I think Daniel Radcliffe will be outstanding. I may have to fly over and see this. Updated On: 7/28/06 at 12:35 PM

[LovinGoodMusicals]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:35pm

It looks like he will be doing the play. Here's an article on att.net homepage:

By KATIE FRETLAND

LONDON (AP) - Daniel Radcliffe will strip off his Harry Potter eyeglasses and robes for his London stage debut next year.

The 17-year-old actor, who plays the bespectacled schoolboy wizard in the Hollywood adaptations of J.K. Rowling's novels, will star as a troubled stableboy in Peter Shaffer's "Equus."

The play delves into the psyche of a boy named Alan Strang who blinds six horses with a metal spike. The production is scheduled to open next March in the West End theater district, said spokesman Peter Thompson.

"It is an extraordinary play, and he's very much looking forward to the role," Radcliffe's spokeswoman, Vanessa Davies, said Friday. "He is maturing as an actor and beginning to take on new and challenging roles."

In one scene the actor playing Strang is required to simulate sexual ecstasy while riding a horse naked. But Davies said nudity was not the focus of the play.

Richard Griffiths, who plays Harry's Uncle Vernon in the films, is lined up to play the psychiatrist who interviews the troubled youth.

Radcliffe is now filming "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth installment in Harry's adventures, and recently finished shooting "December Boys," the story of four orphans who compete for adoption.

"Equus" opened in 1973 at London's National Theatre, before a successful run on Broadway starring Anthony Hopkins. Richard Burton starred in a 1977 film adaptation.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 12:42pm

that's awesome! Good for him

[EdmundOG]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 4:14pm

I remember a few years ago that actor who was on Blues Clues got a lot of flack for doing an episode of Law & Order, and subsequently his contract wasn't renewed.
-------------------------------------

Boy have you got it wrong. He did Law and Order the year before Blue's Clues started. He did do Homicide in 1998, but as he didn't leave Blue's Clues until 2002, I doubt there's any connection.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 4:36pm

This is a very good career move on his part, that is, of course, if it is successful.