Harry Potter's magic wand - the verdict

Ooh I'm feeling so cultured today. First poems now the theatre, its a good job I'm going to see Hot Fuzz with Mosh tomorrow as I might forget myself.
Anyway, today was todger day. Sorry that isn't the best way to start my first post theatre post.

Equus at the Gielgud Theatre

I must admit I was very excited when I got to the theatre and not merely by the hype surrounding the nudity but the prospect of some good live drama after so long.
And I wasn't disappointed. Pure drama stripped of fancy stage sets, props and costumes.
Essentially the story is about a 17-year-old boy who is admitted to a psychiatric hospital having blinded a stable full of horses by stabbing them in the eyes. The central characters are the boy (Daniel Radcliffe) and his psychiatrist (Richard Griffiths) trying to unravel why he did it.
It was easy to forget Radcliffe's associations with Harry Potter. He acted well and although there were certain aspects of his performance that were very similar, there were aspects of seasoned actor Griffiths' performance which also evoked memories previous characters he's played, so Radcliffe can't be criticised for that.
Indeed Griffiths fluffed his lines on a number of occasions but this is preview week.
Radcliffe was extremely confident in his performance, something that only really became apparent when he came on to take a bow at the end and appeared really nervous and unsure, taking his lead from Griffiths.
The staging and lighting were also imaginative particularly in how the horses and riding scenes were portrayed.
And the nudity. Well I was more shocked by Radcliffe smoking and he really smoked. The nude scene, which is quite long, was so much part of the story and the actors (a 'girlfriend' is also naked) so natural in the performance it was hardly the sensation its been hyped up to be and, in a positive way, I felt it not even worthy of a raised eyebrow.
A well deserved standing ovation was given at the end.
On a bit of a high, I headed straight for the stage door and managed to get a really good spot before the crowd really gathered clutching my programme and a pen and camera phone at the ready. Jenny Agutter came out and signed a few autographs, the minor cast members left without much of a stir and then a chap came out and said that Daniel Radcliffe wouldn't be coming out. And that was the only disappointment.

Comments

[nadia]

So you didn't even try and sneak a little incy wincy peek at his 6 pack eh eh? He's 17 - you dirty old slappa' :)

[Rev Stan]

Of course I had a look, for artistic reasons obviously, to see whether they had photo-shopped him on the press shots. They hadn't.

[Hafidz Baharom]

so it was good!

honestly, if daniel had to be nude and smoke to be in the movie, then let it be. it's not like he's going to walk around London like that.

[Mikki]

So jelous that you live in a cultural epicenter. You have cool theatre and things like this happening in your backyard!

[Rev Stan]

It is great living in London but I have to really make an effort to make the most of what it has to offer. I've lived here for nearly 15 years and this is probably only the fifth time I've been to the theatre. I rarely go to museums and galleries which I'm ashamed about - I work 10 minutes walk from the British Museum and its free and I still haven't popped in there during my lunch break!
I'm hoping to rectify my sad record at the theatre though and Equus is the start. I'm off to see The Tempest with Patrick Stewart as Prospero next month.

[Mikki]

Still jelous! I would leave my husband for Patrick Stewart. 

[nadia]

Wow! a grown up ice cream van. must go now...