Arts & Opinion.com
  Arts Culture Analysis  
Vol. 10, No. 4, 2011
 
     
 
  Current Issue  
  Back Issues  
  About  
 
 
  Submissions  
  Subscribe  
  Comments  
  Letters  
  Contact  
  Jobs  
  Ads  
  Links  
 
 
  Editor
Robert J. Lewis
 
  Senior Editor
Bernard Dubé
 
  Contributing Editors
David Solway
Nancy Snipper
Farzana Hassan
Samuel Burd
Andrée Lafontaine
Sylvain Richard
Marissa Consiglieri de Chackal
 
  Music Editors
Diane Gordon
Serge Gamache
 
  Arts Editor
Lydia Schrufer
 
  Graphics
Mady Bourdage
 
  Photographer
Denis Beaumont Marcel Dubois
 
  Webmaster
Emanuel Pordes
 
 
 
  Past Contributors
 
  Noam Chomsky
Mark Kingwell
Naomi Klein
Arundhati Roy
Evelyn Lau
Stephen Lewis
Robert Fisk
Margaret Somverville
Mona Eltahawy
Michael Moore
Julius Grey
Irshad Manji
Richard Rodriguez
Ernesto Zedillo
Pico Iyer
Edward Said
Jean Baudrillard
Bill Moyers
Barbara Ehrenreich
Leon Wieseltier
Nayan Chanda
Charles Lewis
John Lavery
Tariq Ali
Michael Albert
Rochelle Gurstein
Alex Waterhouse-Hayward
 
     

EQUUS

Nancy Snipper reviews film, theater and dance at Arts & Opinion
reviewed by
NANCY SNIPPER

______________________________

EQUUS -- A REMARKABLE RIDE IN THESPIAN EXCELLENCE

Without a doubt, Segal Centre’s production of this daring play stunningly brings together those most coveted elements of great theatre: brilliant acting, a set that visually transports the audience into mind, matter and magic, and lighting merging with music and set to enhance the emotional tenor of plot, mood and character. In this case, the plot places Alan Strang a 17-year-old tormented man in the care of Dr. Martin Dysart, a brilliant psychiatrist who admits both his profession and his beloved books on Greek mythology painfully fail in waking him up to passion that he longs for and witnesses in his patient. In fact, he is envious of the demented teen who has scorched out the eyes of five horses in the stable where he was working. If only he could feel, as his patient does! But will the reason come to light as to why the supposedly gentle Alan would do such a hideous act? Sex, religion, secrets and repression find their outlet in Alan’s deeply disturbing fantasies. As the truth unfolds, the play reaches a climax of such intensity that audience and character seem to become one. Bravo!

It is a brilliant play that rightfully earned a Tony in 1975. Written by Peter Shaffer, Equus epitomizes the virtues of British playwriting at it best. Sharp dialogue delivered with crisp intensity and wit wound into a taut knot vividly highlight the actors’ sterling performances dedicated to the intent of action. The British accents, sparse movements and uncomplicated connectedness played in contrast to the inherent dramatic horror of the event that gives rise to the play itself.

Without going into a who’s who, suffice it to say that director Domy Reiter-Soffer is giftedly artistic. He is a painter, writer, designer and teacher hailing from Israel. His bold and inspired vision of Equus demonstrates a rare ability to integrate and combine video, dance and music into an organic whole that plays to the play’s very essence; it is nothing less than sheer genius.

Jean Marchand in the role of Dysart is spellbinding, utterly articulate and natural in the role. He is a gifted actor. Likewise, Dan Jeannotte as Alan Strang was truly amazing and wholly believable. It is not easy for any actor to bare both soul and body in front of an audience, but Jeannotte was mesmerizing as he performed his most powerful scene where he blinded the boundaries between man, horse and woman. Supportive roles, impressively played by Susan Glover as judge Hesther Salomon; and Daniel Lilliford as Alan’s father, along with Patricia Summersett as Jill Mason, a stable girl who desired Alan, did not go unnoticed. Kudos to veteran lighting designer, John Dinning whose gifts have garnered countless awards –- his set design creations have filled stages all over the world, and in this particular play eerily anchor the wonderful, evocative music composed by Christian Thomas who surely would have been grabbed by Alfred Hitchcock were he still alive. Bravo for this superb production of Equus, which in my mind far surpassed the production I saw in New York City 35 years ago.

 

 

YOUR COMMENTS
Email Address
(not required)
 


 

 
BENEFIT CONCERT FOR HAITI, SALLE GESU, JAN. 20TH (Papa Groove, Ariane Moffatt, Bïa, Kodiak, Echo Kalypso, Doriane Fabrig (ex-Dobacaracol), Claude Lamothe, Ian Kelly, Pépé: Box-office 514.861.4036
Equus @Segal Theater Montreal 514) 739-7944
19thfloor.net = shared webhosting, dedicated servers, development/consulting, no down time/top security, exceptional prices
Film Ratings Page of Sylvain Richard, film critic at Arts & Opinion - Montreal
Montreal Jazz Festival
Montreal Guitar Show July 2-4th (Sylvain Luc etc.). border=
MARK GOLDFARB - CERTIFIED SHIATSU THERAPIST
Montreal World Film Festival
Festival Nouveau Cinema de Montreal, Oct. 10-21st, (514) 844-2172
CINEMANIA(Montreal) - festival de films francophone 1-11 novembre, Cinema Imperial info@514-878-0082: featuring Bernard Tavernier
The Centre de répit Philou is a private not-for-profit, charitable organization that welcomes physically disabled children
Listing + Ratings of films from festivals, art houses, indie
TRAVEL PERU - RENT-A-CAR
Canadian Tire Repair Scam [2211 boul Roland-Therrien, Longueuil] = documents-proofs
madyart.com
Armand Vaillancourt: sculptor
Available Ad Space
Donations
Valid HTML 4.01!
Privacy Statement Contact Info
Copyright 2002 Robert J. Lewis