Equus (Penguin Plays) by Peter Shaffer Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Equus (Penguin Plays)
Book Review: Interesting..
Summary: 3 Stars
I liked the themes of this play but I had found that the way that the play was written was jarring to the themes. It was in a sense; confusing. I loved themes, hate how it was excuted.Book Review: One of the Greatest Plays of the 20th Century!
Summary: 5 Stars
Now, this is why I love the theater. Reading Eqqus was incredible. From beggining to end it is mezmorizing. The characters, the settings, the content...all are shocking and amazing. The play is coming to a profesional theater soon, and I can't WAIT go to see it. It will be incredible, I know.Book Review: One of the masterpieces of contemporary theater
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the most dense, hard-hitting, catharsis-inducing, adjective-provoking works of modern theater and a keynote in contemporary literature. From the pen that scribbled the likes of Amadeus, Shaffer confronts such topics as teen sexuality, childhood imprinting and its effects upon later life, the sociology of religion, and other complex ideas in an interesting, visually stunning work. A great work from a great writer. I place this alongside other 20-th century theatrical masterpieces such as Miller's Death of a Salesman, Norman's 'Night Mother, Beckett's Waiting for Godot, Baraka's The Dutchman, and Sartre's No Exit.Book Review: Powerfull
Summary: 4 Stars
I hate reading with a pasion and the only reason I have read this is because that is is one of our set works . It is a very powerfull book Due to it having all the relivant topics . Religeon , sex ,love and parenting and how it is all involved in this book . The charicters are all real people in todays world bataling with thse things . Dysart is the most important charicter in the book due to him having to treat and battle with dealing with these patiants . It is a spelbinding book due to all the powerfull charichters in it . There is also many underlying plots in this play and this must also say somthing about the writer . To end off I must just say I hate reading but this is an acception .Book Review: Satisfying, but the ending is weak
Summary: 3 Stars
Peter Shaffer's 1972 play EQUUS is an original and often shockingportrayal of the relationship between Martin Dysart, a child psychiatrist, and Alan Strang, a young man who has blinded six horses with a spike. Shaffer's striking message is that modern technology and convenience has weakened Man by removing his capacity for worship and his understanding of pain. The playwright has given Dysart the hobby of archeology of ancient Greece, a time when people saw the hand of the gods in everything, and sacrifice was a custom. With this Shaffer sheds light on what he sees as the degeneracy of our modern age, when science has removed all mystery from Nature and our only gods are machines and rationalism.
EQUUS is in several respects an excellent play. The stage design given by Shaffer is quite novel, using a central raised platform, circular and revolving, together with two benches on either side and, in the background, a row of seats for the chorus representing the god Equus. The play's theme is also ingenious, whether or not one agrees with it. The dialogue is also believably written (for the most part).
However, EQUUS somewhat falls apart in the end. The play's climactic scene, where Alan Strang's motivation for blinding the horses is revealed, is somewhat incoherent. In the final scene, the characters suddenly speak out of part, which is unnecessary and seems quite forced. While these flaws don't annoy too much if one is reading the play, they would mar watching the play performed.
I would recommend EQUUS for those who are intrigued by its message and stage design. It is not a perfect play, however, and I give it three stars.