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Equus

Review

Disturbing play impresses

One of the 20th century's most profoundly disturbing plays is given a profoundly disturbing production that totally belies its creators' name: HumDrum AmDram. A 17 year old who loves horses has blinded six of them. A psychiatrist, Dysart, seeks to establish why. Instead of using horses' heads as the prevailing image of Peter Shaffer's play, HumDrum have Christ-like crowns of thorns - simple, apt and effective.

The production is impressive in continuity, and the biggest problem of all - making the boy sympathetic - is no problem at all for Sam Sampson in his first major role with HumDrum. Vulnerability oozes from every pore, even before he is literally stripped naked. It's in the wide-eyed stare, the defiant yet troubled chanting of advertising jingles, the outbursts of coruscating rage and sexual excitement. James George, directing and playing Dysart, is a constantly coaxing presence. In both capacities he sets a largely matter-of-fact tone, but then he, too, erupts mightily in Dysart's final questioning of his own fitness to declare what is normal, what is worth worshipping and what isn't.

Mike Allen - The News - 25th September 2001