The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 28, 1994, Page 4, Image 4
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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',
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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.
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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
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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
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you need it. But that's not all. You'll a
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i a lot of goodies, at a really unbeat;
)r? College may last four years, but th
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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.
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