Equus by Peter Shaffer is a fascinating exploration of a psychiatric aberration: the treatment by a psychiatrist of a boy who has blinded horses. It's a stunning production - a brilliantly done work of theatrical art with perfect, specific lighting by David Hersey on a great arena set, with the greatest costumes in town, all by John Napier, whose horse's heads and hooves are frighteningly dazzling.
The play has a stylized script, and is staged by director Thea Sharrock in a powerful stylized manner. The horse movements, with Lorenzo Pisoni as the major horse, designed by Fin Walker, are some of the best Mime in town. Richard Griffiths, a mountain of a man, as the sensitive, intuitive, knowledgeable psychiatrist, is the play's center, and he keeps it steady. Kate Mulgrew as his confidant is attractive and solid, as is the rest of the cast. Daniel Radcliffe as the boy is quite good - he is earnest, and willing to go all the way to the fullest of his capability, and Anna Camp as his almost seductress is a convincing lively sprite.
This production of Equus is one of the most brilliant pieces of theater, in both conception and execution, of our time.
