[HPFGU-OTChatter] More on Dan and the Equus Stage Play

[P. Alexis Nguyen]

Steve:
> Next I know others here have mentioned that 'Equus' is a somewhat
> popular play to be stage by better high school theater groups. I have
> to wonder how they deal with some of the more challenging logistical
> problem of staging this particular play. For example, how do high
> school productions deal with the nudity? Obviously, they don't do it,
> but what do they substitute instead; underwear, swimwear, fully
> clothed, body suit, etc...? Would even the implication of nudity be
> allowed in a high school production?

Ali:
Generally, body suits are used.  I'm sure that it varies from
production to production (and budget to budget), but the general rule
is that you use a body suit to imply nudity, mainly because anything
else would serve as distraction and because the nudity is somewhat
important to the play when it cannot be cut/modified for a school
production.  As for the question of whether or not nudity would be
allowed, I think that depends on the school district (at least in
America) - I went to school in the Midwest, and while we did some
fantastic productions, Equus was never one of them (though that may be
because none of us wanted to do it).


Steve:
> The second aspect is the horseback riding. How is that stage in an
> amateur production? Someone here said that fellow actors played the
> role of the horse, but how can that be done in such a dramatic play
> without it becoming ridiculously comical?

Ali:
Regardless of the budget, Equus is *supposed* (which is to say that
some people don't) to be stage with all actors on a minimal stage with
the audience set in areas surrounding the stage - a theatre in the
round sort of set-up.  Even though it was written in 1973, Equus is
generally considered a Theatre of the Absurd piece; therefore, many of
the things in the play will seem very comical, meant to "demonstrate
the comical and absurd aspect of life" or something like that - it's
been a while since I've had that particular school lesson.  On paper
(or computer as in this case), the idea of actors playing the role of
the horses seems something out of a more whimsical play, especially
since we're talking about actors who will likely be wearing
surrealistic horse heads, but in Equus, it works, and it works
because, as is indicative of the movement, the play is almost
dream-like in its storytelling, and the actors-as-horses work with
that.

I have no idea how many people here have read/seen the play, but those
who have probably understands why I disagree with Steve in saying that
I have very little interest in seeing Dan in Equus.  To be sure, I
think he'll be great in in; he just seems the right sort (in a good
way, not the psychotic Equus-like way) to play this role.  However, I
do not want to see the boy playing Harry Potter playing the role of
Alan Strang until the HP movies are done with.

Anyway, that's my bit, or at least the bit I remember from high school
English and theatre classes.  Hope that helps anyone who might be
confused about the Equus production.

~Ali