Equus By Peter Shaffer: Play Analysis
Equus, a play by Peter Shaffer, written in 1973 was performed on Forbes Center Stage by James Madison University students. It introduced actors- Chris Consaul, Noah Heie- allowing them to perform complex roles full of emotion.
The playwrights inspiration originated from a friends recount of a story heard at a most recent dinner party in London; a young man who blinded 26 horses with a spike. This story was enough to fascinate Peter Shaffer in constructing a play around it.
Alan Strang, a unstable teenager who unaccountably blinds horses with a metal spike is met by a psychiatrist, Martin Dysart that works in a mental hospital trying to determine the motives for the crime Alan Strang has performed. The two work themselves into a trustworthy relationship that leads them to sharing their unforthcoming emotions.
The performance of Equus uses every emotional and technical effect that a theater can produce. The staging and set has simplicity, though enough to achieve every scene with it. The music added a emotional side to the scenario and/or to enhance the storytelling at the time.
Alan Strang a 17-year old boy, lives with a …show more content…
religious mother and a father opposed to social norms; watching tv, being a normal kid. Alan grows to learn to fear god and normal religious norms. Needing a getaway for his sexual feelings and passion for horses, he creates a religious relationship with horses. Dysart demands a confident role to be able to easily express their thoughts and feelings. Dysart takes part in figuring out the reason behind Alans actions, but also finds out his own feelings of loveless and loneliness. Destroying Alan’s passion; horses is like killing all of Dysarts own passions.
The performance was presented in a way that was for the audience to get emotional connected with the main roles of the play, to see a true representation of inner thoughts the characters are thinking, and to have the audience feel as they were being spoken to.
Chris Consaul plays Martin Dysart, the psychiatrist.
His professionalism was so convincing in his role that he held the audience captive and made them feel as there was nothing but his character in front of them talking to them as if he were their doctor. In later scenes his anger was expressed to the maximum effectiveness. Standing down stage with nothing but your body on stage and able to make a one on one connection with the audience was a task that was accomplished. Alan Strangs sick and unnatural actions were easily conveyed by the postures, vocabulary, and gestures performed. Though at times his actions did not portray his age during the play, 17-years-old. As Alan shared passed stories to Dysart, the stage is split into two scenes, portraying Alans inner thoughts. This was accomplished by correct positioning on stage and the
lighting.
Whether going to plays is a norm for you or if you just go to do something, I would highly recommend this play being one you should see. It’s emotional impact, creative staging, and profound ideas
The playwrights inspiration originated from a friends recount of a story heard at a most recent dinner party in London; a young man who blinded 26 horses with a spike. This story was enough to fascinate Peter Shaffer in constructing a play around it.
Alan Strang, a unstable teenager who unaccountably blinds horses with a metal spike is met by a psychiatrist, Martin Dysart that works in a mental hospital trying to determine the motives for the crime Alan Strang has performed. The two work themselves into a trustworthy relationship that leads them to sharing their unforthcoming emotions.
The performance of Equus uses every emotional and technical effect that a theater can produce. The staging and set has simplicity, though enough to achieve every scene with it. The music added a emotional side to the scenario and/or to enhance the storytelling at the time.
Alan Strang a 17-year old boy, lives with a …show more content…
religious mother and a father opposed to social norms; watching tv, being a normal kid. Alan grows to learn to fear god and normal religious norms. Needing a getaway for his sexual feelings and passion for horses, he creates a religious relationship with horses. Dysart demands a confident role to be able to easily express their thoughts and feelings. Dysart takes part in figuring out the reason behind Alans actions, but also finds out his own feelings of loveless and loneliness. Destroying Alan’s passion; horses is like killing all of Dysarts own passions.
The performance was presented in a way that was for the audience to get emotional connected with the main roles of the play, to see a true representation of inner thoughts the characters are thinking, and to have the audience feel as they were being spoken to.
Chris Consaul plays Martin Dysart, the psychiatrist.
His professionalism was so convincing in his role that he held the audience captive and made them feel as there was nothing but his character in front of them talking to them as if he were their doctor. In later scenes his anger was expressed to the maximum effectiveness. Standing down stage with nothing but your body on stage and able to make a one on one connection with the audience was a task that was accomplished. Alan Strangs sick and unnatural actions were easily conveyed by the postures, vocabulary, and gestures performed. Though at times his actions did not portray his age during the play, 17-years-old. As Alan shared passed stories to Dysart, the stage is split into two scenes, portraying Alans inner thoughts. This was accomplished by correct positioning on stage and the
lighting.
Whether going to plays is a norm for you or if you just go to do something, I would highly recommend this play being one you should see. It’s emotional impact, creative staging, and profound ideas