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_4 Hors 'Equus' indicative ol By LUPE EYDE Staff Writer A sold-out audience gave the Theatre USC production of Peter Shaffer's "Equus" a standing ovation Thursday, the show's opening night. The ovation was because of superb direction by Richard Blair and the inspired portrayal of young psychiatric patient Alan Strang by Thom Penn. "Equus" is a psychological drama that examines the motivation behind 17-year-old Alan Strang's horrible act: the blinding of five horses with a hooi pick. He is recommended to Martin Dysart, a child psychiatrist played by William Hall, who examines his family life in search of clues to his crime. I was very impressed with the production, first of all because of the na ture or the play, whose major theme is human passion: how some people fear it, some live for it and others try to stifle it. Each character has his or her passion. For example, Alan's passion is horses, his mother's is the Bible, and his father's is the rejection of religion. Secondly, the controversial relationship between religion and sexuality, which is the basis of Alan's obsession with horses, makes this play a must-see. From an early age he is both attracted to them and sees them as gods, and with his mother's influence of the Bible, goes about creating his own religion and rituals. Third, Shaffer's examination of Dysart's own mid-life crisis is a key part of the play's impact. He knows his function is to "cure" young psychiatric patients and make them "normal," but he is losing faith in his profession. He sees his life as monoto', W' v..-.- " . * Fir ft Right no an Apple' from Apj performs 'Offer valid through 3/31/94 or while supplies last. See your At eplav i :fine stnHpnt Hirprtinn nous and pointless because he's lost the passion he had originally felt toward his job, and his marriage, hating i the feet that what he is really doing is taking the passion away from children by turning them into very normal, but , very boring, people. No matter how masterful a play is ; written, it means nothing if the production doesn't do it justice. HowevL er, this is not the case with Richard [ Blair and his cast in "Equus." I can't even describe Penn's performance " with normal adjectives, but it wouldn't be fair if I didn't acknowledge some of the smaller parts in the . play, such as Kathryn Johnston's playing Dora Strang, Alan's mother, and S. Jack Silman as Frank Strang, Alan's father. One of the many unique aspects of the play are the horses, which serve as characters, scenery, and similar to Greek tragedy, chorus. Here's where Blair's expertise comes in: the players tossed their heads, walked and stomped just like horses. The use of their presence on stage transcended the visual realm as they speak Alan's thoughts and dreams through chants and hoof stomps. "Equus" makes you think and perhaps examines your own life and beliefs, which is why it's recommended for mature audiences only. In addition to the psychological nature of the play there is nudity in the second act, but this is secondary as it only adds to the plot and doesn't take away from the intense drama that unfolds on stage. "Equus" shows what a uni versity production is capable of, in direction, acting and providing a forum Thom for controversy and introspection. vw u lallyso lat just; | mm~ f ^ ? l. * 4 ? tftt . J / f /. ,f f f 1/ f I f If M, f f < * *v iiii?<i?iF)? I muumir i I * * f. * t t ? f f | I Macintosh LC 475 4/80, Apph w, when you buy an already affordable Mac ' StyleWritef II or LaserWriter; you'll receive a }le.* That's a hundred bucks now on a con: ince. Plus the Macintosh LC 475 is upgradable Co in the! tlhorized Apple Campus Reseller for details. Offer mid where prohibited by lau ?199'. "Che Gamecock Carolina! . Ft JHM ||||J W ^ *? ' i -$f>*?*ihm *, B IH11:d$M^<:ifM^^K^* v s'v'%. ^ H sEbBL R fflBm I Hii J^Ir ^^^hh|| g^ran I Z?j ? { I y pl Penn and William Hall performed in USC's productio: 3r? ??bVr.': ' ? mpthiru ?oi less< i .' f If f \ ? p i ?M ?1 ~ . .,..^.?..V.., ,-.,Ai ? Color Plus 14" Display, Apple Extended Keyboard II, Pi :intosh" LC 475 with mance in the future, if $100 mail-in rebate seven popular softwar iputer with fast 040 Macintosh svstem with. J to PowerPC' perfor- what are you waiting ft >ntact USC Bookstc iussell House 77 f Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo. laserWriter. Macintosh and Si Monday, I Students for the of Animals, 7:45 p.i Call Kristi von Karo Applications du< Graduate Student. Tuesday, I "Appreciating Oi conducted by Dr. Ri 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. W students, but a lit spaces are availabl seling and Human 1 ter at 7-5223. Beta Alpha Psi m< of Accountancy (8 Blvd.). Topic is "CP. Social at 5:30 p.m., ing at 6 p.m. Wear ( JHBIHB Carolina for Kids JHr I Wednesday, "Healing the Wc Br B from Loss," worksh r J Dr. Ruthann Fox-Hii p.m. Workshop is fh a limited number o OKIA r*oil fllA P/MIOI rauiv. v^aii uiw Development Centi Chimera Self De part 2, for females, Sponsored by the C sault Programs. 77" Students Allied fo 8:30 p.m., RH 302. Thursday, "An Easter Celeb 5 p.m., RH Patio. Sf pus Crusade for CI Brent at 799-2087. Friday, i File photo "Healing the Wo n of 'Equus.' from Loss," worksh Dr. Ruthann Fox-Hir p.m. Workshop is fix Wa limited number o able. Call the Couns Development Centt Thursday Beta Alpha Psi, 7 worth Children's He m Call Charles Knight Saturday, Beta Alpha Psi, 1 picnic at Sesquicen I for c< spen * ,4^ * ..-.w.- ,... .. . .-.<.. .v.,-... . ..v.... - ?.4 * *? LUb we Apple Stylewriter II. you need it. But that's not all. You'll a e programs while supplies last. Tha i a lot of goodies, at a really unbeat; )r? College may last four years, but th re 7-7430 yleWriter are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. PowerPC is Monday, March 28,1994 March 28 sual dress. Call Charles Knight at 4Ethical Treatment 0396. n., Cafe Expresso. _1 AAA A^A^ _ ^ rS Saturday, April 16 \ward, 777-2477. Outdoor benefit for the Women's Shelter, noon to 7 p.m., Immaculate ^larch 29 Consumption, 933 S. Main St. Live leself," workshop music by Marlee McLeod, The Losers uthann Fox-Hines, and The Drovers, as well as food and orkshop is free to drinks. Tickets are 15 plus a canned nited number of food item. 779-4706. e. Call the CounDevelopment CenWeekly Meetings eeting, S.C. Board g Sundays, Ballroom Dancing Club, 00 Dutch Square 4 to 5:30 p.E. Center. foltowd bymeet- n Monda>'s' Bible Stud''' 6:50 P m" professional dress. BaPtist Student Union, 700 Pickens i, 6 p.m., RH 303. St. Mondays and Wednesdays, free inMarch 30 come tax assistance, 12:30 p.m. to >und: Recovering 2:30 p.m., RH lobby. 7-4710. top conducted by Tuesdays, gay, lesbian and bisexules, 2 p.m. to 4:30 al students support group, 4:30 p.m., ee to students, but Counseling Center. f spaces are avail- Tuesc|ays chi Alpha Christian Felieling and Human ar <it 7-5223 iv/waiiijj, o p.m., nuiuaiuu^ iuj. fense Workshop, Tuesdays and Thursdays, free tu, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. toring for accounting students, 6 p.m. iffice of Sexual As- to 8 p.m., BA 402. 7-4710. r-8248. g Wednesdays, Student Outreach r a Greener Earth, (USC admissions recruitment program), 5:30 p.m., Leiber College. Call . . u 21 Leigh Stoan at 7-4080. / Wednesdays, College Republicans, ration, 4 p.m. to 0 ~ ^ ? xmsored by Cam- 8 P m ' Gambrel1 250' Cal1 Enc Del1 irist. Call Brenda at 926-7902 or Chip Payne at 7505162. Wednesdays, Bisexual, Gay and LesVpril 1 bian Association, 8 p.m., Gambrell und: Recovering ^02. op conducted by Thursdays, Common Ground, 4:30 les, 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., RH 203. x to students, but Thursdays. RHA, 7 p.m., RH 305. f spaces ire avail- Call M 4_2m eling and Human ir at 7-5223. B Thursdays, "Heart to Heart," 7 p.m., . Baptist Student Union, 700 Pickens April "7 'p.im, visit to Ep- Thursdays' Inter-Varsity Christian >me. Casual dress. Fellowship, 8 p.m., RH 303. at 4-0396. The deadline for Datebook is two April 9 days before publication date. Sub1 a.m. to 2 p.m., missions are free and printed acitennial Park. Ca- cordins to available sbace. 'm' " notJ ~f ' fl :*TaU! *?"?- ".? "i allege sive. I L i I w lso take home ^0 t's a complete fl able price. So, tis offer won't. ApplC f a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation, used under license therefrom.