why no major revival of "Equus"?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 9:01pm

I recently re-read this play, which made a powerful impression on me in my 20s, and was startled at how borderline pretentious, overwrought, and basically just overwritten it was, though admittedly, in a highly theatrical, always compelling way. It's interesting that it's almost never performed anymore. Perhaps someone could re-explore it, throwing out the John Dexter original staging (pretty brilliant) with the brown velevet horse wear, and finding an altogether new way in. It was always a very homo-erotic journey, though of course that element was denounced at the time. The play's view of religious fervor might make it more contemporary.

I saw it relatively late in its bway run, with Anthony Perkins, who was particularly quirky (no shock) and mesmerizing, since he was a sort of a boy-man, i.e. Alan Strang himself, and the parallels between shrink and troubled youth seemed eerie for altogether different reasons than with a Hopkins or Burton.

If anyone knows of a successful professional revival in the past 5-10 years, please post. For a respected play by an admired playwright, it's disappeared from the repetoire, no?

Updated On: 6/20/06 at 09:01 PM

[Alex LaVelle]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 9:08pm

Well, it wasn't professional, but one of Emory University's theatre groups performed Equus two years ago. It was the year before I got there, so I didn't get to see it, but it is supposedly one of the best student productions ever done on campus.

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 9:31pm

Bailiwick Rep in Chicago did a production that utilized deaf actors a few years back.

Updated On: 6/20/06 at 09:31 PM

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:41pm

East West Players did it here a few months ago (with an all Asian cast) and it was pretty amazing... the horses were very nicely realized and they used japanese drums during the production... very powerful stuff... the only problem... George Takei was the Dysart and he was AAAAWFUL!!!!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:53pm

It's actually done quite frequently by regional theatres and colleges. However, I've been wondering too why it hasn't been done again on Broadway. I think the reason is because the play is quite dated in its 1970s "free love, stick it to the man" mentality. However, with appropriate star casting, I imagine it would do well in a limited run at the Roundabout or something.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:54pm

Does anyone agree with me that Ben Curtis--the "Dell Dude"--would make an excellent Alan Strang? Perhaps with Brian F. O'Byrne as Dr. Dysart?

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 11:00pm

Considering that O'Bryne is getting cast in EVERYTHING nowadays, I wouldn't be surprised. They would likely find some young flavor of the month TV star to play Alan. This is Broadway afterall. Gotta keep the tourists happy.

[Tirso de Molina]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 12:52am

Didn't they do EQUUS out in the Berkshires a summer or two ago with Randy Harrison (QUEER AS FOLK) as Alan? I never heard how it turned out, though.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 12:56am

I'm fond of this play too but I think you pointed out why it doesn't get revived much.

[LostLeander]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 1:32am

CMU did it this past year, in a small black box-ish theatre. Really well done. It's an extremely difficult show.

I would love to see this come back with really really fresh direction. Or not. It's difficult enough, and doesn't necessarily need a new set, or rethinking, because it's a brilliant show.

No stunt casting here though. You need ACTORS for this piece.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 2:03am

I Think SEX with Horses scares most Theatre goers
But it is a Greatly Written Play
Brian O'Byrne is a Great choice

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 5:42am

Auggie27, I think you pretty much nailed why it hasn't been revived. Also, there may be fear that there are lots of critics around who saw the original Broadway production and might find any new production wanting in comparison with their memories.

That having been said, it seems a natural for the Roundabout.

And just the other day I was wondering how Peter Firth might be as Dysart.

Btw, if you saw Perkins, you probably saw it relatively early in the Broadway run. If my memory is right, he was the second of six actors to play Dysart on Broadway.

[kevinr]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 7:24am

The Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada did Equus several years ago with Brian Bedford directing and starring. A young great actor named Nicholas Van Burek played Alan.

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 5:04pm

I ddin't know that Bedford had returned to the role, which he had played in the national tour of the original production.

[roseaddams]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 5:09pm

About a year ago, I saw an incredible student production of Equus. Granted, it was in a school cafeteria/auditorium, so it wasn't the smoothest of all shows, but the actors did so well I didn't really notice.


Virginia School Production of Equus

[cturtle]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 6:20pm

"the kids loved it ... once they stopped screaming about horses getting their eyes gouged out."

ha!

[Jon]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 8:57pm

The original staging was simply brilliant - the set, the costuming and movement of the horses, the lighting, the on-stage audience seating. I'd hate to be a director trying to come up with something new and having critics compare it to the original.

I think it's easier to revive a play that's a hundred years old - no one alive can claim to have seen the original, and it's not preserved on film or tape!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 9:33pm

Well, AMADEUS was revived--to mixed results.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/21/06 at 10:29pm

On Broadway, I only saw the show with Richard Burton. I've seen it twice in Ithaca since then...once at The Hangar Theatre with an Equity cast a few years later and a couple of years ago it was done at Cornell University Theatre Department, again with professionals in the major roles. I've noticed that the nude scene gets more extended each time. I'd be against the type of "re-thinking" that goes on in today's theatre.

[whyayvee]

Posted: 6/30/06 at 8:20pm

The BTF production was well received and Harrison got very good reviews. I saw the production. He was marvelous. In fact he was asked back this summer for BTF's production of Amadeus, where he is playing Mozart. The production is going on right nopw and runs to July 8

Here's a review of last summer's Eqquus

http://rogovoy.com/news1049.html

http://tinyurl.com/8u2e6 Updated On: 6/30/06 at 08:20 PM