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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
dark
fast-paced
A story of individual vs society, insane vs 'normal'. This somewhat disturbing play is best summed up by the part in which the psychiatrist, an older man trapped in a loveless marriage and in the middle of an existential crisis, describes to his assistant the irony that he, who dreams of ancient Greece and its frenzied rituals and deity worship, is tasked to turn a young boy, who by night worships and fetishises horses and a personal horse deity, into a socially acceptable 'normal' individual, fit for normal bourgeois society.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal cruelty
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For our generation’s readers, whenever the word “equus” is spoken aloud, the first image brought to mind is not the mystery that envelopes those two syllables, but instead a naked Daniel Radcliffe straddling a mechanical horse. While there is no denying the existence of said production, what lies beyond proves to be a psychologically tantalizing story in which a terrifying battle arises between devious desires and religious dominations.
The controversial Tony Award winner begins as psychiatrist Martin Dysart is asked to take on a shocking case as a favor to magistrate and friend Hesther. Described as a study that will disgust doctors everywhere, it is then stated that seventeen-year-old Alan Strang has been found guilty of senselessly blinding six horses with a metal spike over the course of a single night. Though he is initially reluctant to take on more work, Dysart becomes intrigued with the case and agrees to take the traumatized boy under his wing.
Within the beginning sessions, Alan attests as a difficult patient, answering only in jingles and isolating himself whenever asked anything personal, particularly his experiences with horses. However, his nightmares suggest otherwise, as what is repressed during the day continues to haunt him throughout his nights at the hospital.
With the help of both outside information and several therapy methods, the determined Dysart manages to coax his patient out of silence and into reenacting his deepest thoughts leading up to the infamous night. Nonetheless, when unhinged passion is brought forth by the boy’s almighty deity “Equus”, both doctor and patient are left to search for light amid their now darkened interpretations of society’s confines.
Though the play uses a single space in order to depict a variety of settings and mimed props, the simplicity conducted during the story’s telling relays with thought-provoking genius. Among the play’s notable qualities is the relationship dynamics exhibited in both the doctor-patient link and between Alan and his parents. Upon the interviews that the doctor conducts with Frank and Dora Strang (both as a duo and separately), we become acquainted with Alan’s strict upbringing in a house found at odds. Whether it was the divide between devout Christianity and staunch atheism or neglecting to educate their son about sex, the author succeeds in demonstrating the rigid influence a parent has over their child’s maturation, even in fictional form. As for Alan’s growing liaison with his
psychiatrist, though conflict emerges in Alan’s fearful aversion to admitting his actions, a trust is established between the two as Alan begins to associate Dysart as someone who can take away his pain.
However, as the play’s message comes to a close, it is then that the reader begins to realize that the significance of the title word lies not only as the Latin word for “horse” or as the mighty god-like figure on which Alan pledges his allegiance. The word itself relays as the driving force among the characters that intermingles their religious inquiries with the mind’s secret desires. Equus is not solely the dominating idol that distorts Alan’s views of civilization to the point of unthinkable madness; it is also what binds Dysart to a career that forces him to continuously probe the tortured psyche, despite his knowing that he cannot help end Alan’s misery entirely.
From the moment that Dysart becomes acquainted with Alan Strang’s sentence to the crime’s horrifying reenactment, playwright Peter Shaffer builds upon an inconceivable tale that coaxes readers to delve into the inner sanctum of our distortions with an ending that will leave the reader haunted hours later.
The controversial Tony Award winner begins as psychiatrist Martin Dysart is asked to take on a shocking case as a favor to magistrate and friend Hesther. Described as a study that will disgust doctors everywhere, it is then stated that seventeen-year-old Alan Strang has been found guilty of senselessly blinding six horses with a metal spike over the course of a single night. Though he is initially reluctant to take on more work, Dysart becomes intrigued with the case and agrees to take the traumatized boy under his wing.
Within the beginning sessions, Alan attests as a difficult patient, answering only in jingles and isolating himself whenever asked anything personal, particularly his experiences with horses. However, his nightmares suggest otherwise, as what is repressed during the day continues to haunt him throughout his nights at the hospital.
With the help of both outside information and several therapy methods, the determined Dysart manages to coax his patient out of silence and into reenacting his deepest thoughts leading up to the infamous night. Nonetheless, when unhinged passion is brought forth by the boy’s almighty deity “Equus”, both doctor and patient are left to search for light amid their now darkened interpretations of society’s confines.
Though the play uses a single space in order to depict a variety of settings and mimed props, the simplicity conducted during the story’s telling relays with thought-provoking genius. Among the play’s notable qualities is the relationship dynamics exhibited in both the doctor-patient link and between Alan and his parents. Upon the interviews that the doctor conducts with Frank and Dora Strang (both as a duo and separately), we become acquainted with Alan’s strict upbringing in a house found at odds. Whether it was the divide between devout Christianity and staunch atheism or neglecting to educate their son about sex, the author succeeds in demonstrating the rigid influence a parent has over their child’s maturation, even in fictional form. As for Alan’s growing liaison with his
psychiatrist, though conflict emerges in Alan’s fearful aversion to admitting his actions, a trust is established between the two as Alan begins to associate Dysart as someone who can take away his pain.
However, as the play’s message comes to a close, it is then that the reader begins to realize that the significance of the title word lies not only as the Latin word for “horse” or as the mighty god-like figure on which Alan pledges his allegiance. The word itself relays as the driving force among the characters that intermingles their religious inquiries with the mind’s secret desires. Equus is not solely the dominating idol that distorts Alan’s views of civilization to the point of unthinkable madness; it is also what binds Dysart to a career that forces him to continuously probe the tortured psyche, despite his knowing that he cannot help end Alan’s misery entirely.
From the moment that Dysart becomes acquainted with Alan Strang’s sentence to the crime’s horrifying reenactment, playwright Peter Shaffer builds upon an inconceivable tale that coaxes readers to delve into the inner sanctum of our distortions with an ending that will leave the reader haunted hours later.
Incredibly strange and fantastic and also hard to get into. I guess I hoped it would be more engrossing than it was.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting
Moderate: Misogyny
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Alan is my new dream role. Such a violently captivating character. Every scene had me hungry for more.
I was thinking closer to 2 stars, but then I read the last few pages, or more specifically, the last few lines. It's been awhile since I read words that will stay with me and those definitely will.