Equus

[clauclauclaudia]

EDITED to linkify review.

Two shows left! Tonight, and Saturday matinee. Claudia-Bob sez, check it out.

Theatre@First is in the second week of its performances of Equus, and it's a fantastic, intimate production. No giant horse puppets, no nudity... this is an up-close psychological drama that fits the intimate performance space (a church basement). I got home last night quite overwhelmed by it.

dpolicar directed, lillibet and a newcomer to T@F co-star... And this is the point at which I forgot I wanted to post before leaving the house. Hurray for restore-from-draft, but I won't be elaborating further while thumb-typing on my phone.

There's an excellent review in Bay Windows that I think really "gets" this production. Reserve tix for 8pm tonight or 3pm Saturday, and catch it before it's gone!

Comments

[msdirector.livejournal.com]

I had the chance to see this production last weekend while visiting my kids in MA, and I too was impressed.

This is a wonderful play but is generally VERY difficult for most community theatre groups to do well. It is intense, complex, and very emotionally driven. The language, while realistic and not actually poetry, is unusually poetic and is often difficult for community actors to deal with. Although it seems deceptively simple structurally, its diverse settings and the interaction between boy and horses make it a challenge to stage, especially on a small stage such as the one in the church basement on which this was presented. So I was very pleasantly surprised to find myself really enjoying everything about this produciton.

dpolicar did a great job directing, both in his staging choices and his work with the actors on their characters and relationships. The actors did a uniformly excellent job - with particular bravos to the young man who played the boy, Alan Strang, who is the subject of the psychological investigation in the play. The usual nude scene and big horses heads were never missed - in fact, not using them tended to focus the acting and make it even more intense and intimate.

All in all, a job well done all around. I highly recommend it. Quick - get your tickets now!

[dpolicar]

Wait, how do you know Claudia?

And thank you!

[navrins]

Via me.

[dpolicar]

Oh right!
My world is sometimes smaller than I give it credit for.

[msdirector.livejournal.com]

Just like I know you! My kids have terrific and very interesting friends.

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Claudia! It was great to have you in the front row last night!

[dpolicar]

Thank you!