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PR pncr Guest professional actor Donal Donnelly, as psychiatrist Martin Dysart, rehearses a scene from the upcoming production of “Equus,” where he discusses Alan Strang’s (Jeff Kin, center) obsession with horses and in par ticular, a horse called “Nugget” (played by Craig Summers, right). Donnelly is “Equus” guest artist and it was taken on a national tour. This tour brought Donnelly to the Col By Lisa Pettit umbus area for the first time. Donally has proven himself to be a Donal Donnelly will be the guests very versatile actor. He has played a for the Otterbein College theatre wide variety of roles on the stage, in department’s production of “Equus”, film and television roles both here in a story about a boy who allegedly the United States and in Ireland and blinds six horses. This is the 24ih con elsewhere in Europe. secutive year that Otterbein ha^^ had a He has played Dr. Frederick Treves guest artist. on Broadway in “The Elephant Man” Donnelly, who is originally from opposite David Bowie. He also ap Dublin, Ireland, will play the role of peared on Broadway in “The Faith the psychiatrist Martin Dysart. The Healer” with James Mason. He has psychiatrist is asked to treat the young also performed with Deborah Kerr on man who has blinded the horses. the national tour of “The Last of Mrs. “Equus”, written by Peter Schaffer, Cheyney.” won the 1975 Tony Award for best This performance at Otterbein is play. certainly not the first time that Don- Donnelly considers the role Dr. nelly has been on a college campus. He Martin Dysart to be very challenging has travelled extensively to colleges and the play itself to be very exciting. across the United States and in Canada Donnelly began his career in his for the past few years with his one man homeland of Ireland and after several show “My Astonishing Self.” This years of travelling back and forth show is based on the life and times of across the Atlantic Ocean, he decided George Bernard Shaw. to bring his family to the United Once Donnelly has completed States. His wife Patsy and their three “Equus” he will continue touring with children, Maryanne, 19, Damian, 15 “My Astonishing Self.” and Jonathon James, 13, now reside “Equus” will run from Thursday, irt^^stport Connecticut. ^ October 18 through Sunday, October . "l3avid Merrick’s production of 21 in Cowan Hall. All performances “Philadelphia, Here I Come” brought are free to students with their student Donnelly to the United States for the l.D.’s. Tickets are available in the first time. This play was very successful Cowan Hall box office. ENTEBirAiMItfiEMT Otterbein’s ^Equus’ intense, capable production By Dennis Fiely the troubled boy, Alan Strang and child-rearinp: for an ex IN THE SHOW’S most chal But it is Dougherty as the Dispatch Thaatar Critic Equus, starring guest (Jeff Kin), and his girlfriend, Jill tremely disturbing portrait. lenging role,. Kin captures the boy's adventurous, carefree girl professional artist Donal Mason (Charlotte Dougherty). right mix of intimidation and friend who delivers the evening's Nobody can accuse Otterbein Donnelly, continues in Cowan It's also a disitribe against College in Westerville of opening the humdrum existence of daily vulnerability for Alan. Laura most natural student perform Hall at Otterbein College Stitt and David Caldwell effec ance. its theater season with a patsy through Sunday. Showtimes are living. as a tune-up for more difficult BORROWING HEAVILY tively portray his overly protec 8:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday from the Broadway staging of The entire team at Otterbein things to come. THE SHOW’S big, classical tive parents' misguided love. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets Equus, director Charles Dodrill is to be commended for ably Otterbein raised the curtain may be obtained at the Cowan has devised a classy and well- themes emerge loudly and clear- tackling such a challenging show 'ly in the Otterbein production, Nancy Fox as the hospital on its 1984-85 stage season Hall box office before the show. conceived production. nurse and Jodie Silk as Dysart’s that should leave the audience I Thursday with a courageous and even though its emotionally entertained and. most of all. He creates an arena setting charged material stretches the confidant and comforter, Hester I capable production of Peter Salomon, lend able support. stimulated. Shaffer's Equus, which played REVIEW for added intimacy and dimen student cast to the limit. I for more than 1,000 perform sion. ances in New York and won the Cowan Hall stage by a square of The show clocks in at 2V2 Guest professional artist I Tony Award. railngs and benches. hours, but it moves along with a Donal Donnelly, a Broadwayf veteran from Ireland, is out-l This difficult drama, being Despite its sparse, expres- fluid grace as the performers sionistic set, which also doubles enter the action from the rows of standing as psycldatrist MartinJ revived throughout the country Dysart. Donnelly's polished' pro-i thanks to the success of Shaf as a stable, Equus is so blinding spectators that surround the ly theatrical and bizarre that, in stage. fessionalism and deh underplayj fer's more recent Amadeus, ing hold the young student casj deals with a deeply disturbed less accomplished hands, it could come off as quite silly. The production's eerie, al together. boy's unusual preoccupation most Gothic, tone, largely at with horses and the painstaking After all, not many plays call The younger tast membersl for a supporting cast of six hors tributable to Fred Thayer's dim efforts of a self-doubting psychi lighting design, makes Otter- all Otterbein undergraduatesj atrist to treat the boy and purge es, neatly represented here by actors with wire mesh horses' bein's Equus seem like a nigh- create strong definitions for his demons. their characters and nicely han-| heads and hooves. marish journey into the subcon THE THERAPY, which fre But, due to the earnestness scious, where all manner of for die the language in English ac cents, although thly’re occasion-1 quently segues into flashbacks and intensity of the Otterbein bidden fears and desires are as the boy re-enacts his trau production, there was no snick dangerously unearthed. ally caught emodng instead of I acting. matic moments, takes place in ering in the audience on Thurs The script is explosive and side an English psychiatric hos day, not even during a lengthy, controversial. It re-examines ac Equus is certainly a fine pital, barely suggested on the climactic nude scene between cepted notions of sex, religion learning experience for them. D 6/Che Columbut fli«puf(h/Monday, Oct. 15,1984 ■ 7“^ ENTERTAINIVIENT Otterbein guest tells tall tales Rv Dennis Ficly C'lifa*, *' Cf'fSleuth, SI ; “WHEN HE came into the Otterbein box office one hour THE SHOW won a Tony CharinfT Cros,'^ Pond, etc.), Don before showtimes or by calling show, there was an explosion in nomination, and a Varioty poll nelly had his own television ser S90-3028 on weekday afternoons. iittendance.” Donnelly said. of theater critics named Donnel ies for the British Broadcasting OctoberiS, 1984 page 5l Craig Summera Is Guest Artist’s understudy hy Lisa Pettit nuringWpa^mflW^^ Rfliinn tk\n peared in the outdoor drama “Blue Craig Summers, a junior from McCon- fcssional actor find things that you had Jacket” in Xenia, Ohio. Durinetf^^e • missed really shows what y^fers of ex nelsville, Ohio, got an opportunity dur- he became very accustomed^^oVses mg this fall s theatre production that not perience can do for you, said Summers. i which has helped him for his role in By using an understudy, students get a many Otterben students get. He is the “Equus.” understudy to Donal Donnelly, the guest chainoe.^o rolesthat they might not nor- I According to Summers, when he heard:|jS, 3rtist for “Equus.” maljy get to do.' that there would be a guest artist, he was ' An understudy is someone who trains upset because he wanted to do this play for a role in case the regular actor or ac SuiTirners,‘a transfer from Rio^Grande j tress must be replaced. very much and with the guest artist, there College, has also done other wotk in the Wioio tA' S('0II would be one less role to fill. As well as understudying. Summers pastVHe performed in “Tecun^h” and | Craig Summers has an important part in But after working with Donnelly, he plays the role of the Horseman and the in “Shenandoah” in Chillic^e, Ohio. the production of "Equus." //c is the was very pleased with the way things have horse Nugget. Summers calls Nugget the Here at Otterbein he has pla)^ in “Fid understudy for Donal Donnelly, the guest worked out. Summers feels that this is a artist “lead horse.” dler bn the Roof’ and in “Midsummer’s vaiuaoievaluable learning experience for him. Night Dream.” Costumes, set design add dimension to drama By M.M. Keefer, reporter As m any play, Slane stated the set designs and fits all the costumes for all The set design and costumes aid the has to reflect the atmosphere of the play. the shows on campus. Both Lucy Reutherhnd Mike Slane interpretation of a play. In "Fxjuus” both The wood represents the warmth of the The costumes for “Equas" are “con agree that costumes and set design con play and the metal, the coldness. Slane and Reuther feel that they ha\’e temporary but with an English flavor” tribute to the success of a play. The ^uus” set, which was under contributed to a succes,sful play. Mike Slane, an '84 graduate of Otter Reuther stated. construction the second week back at In choosing the right costume bein, is Assistant Technical Director this school, rotates in one of the scenes to year. His primary job is to build sets. Reuther looks at “what seems right for help create an illusion. the character and what the character For “Equus", he not only built it, he The “Equus” set is similar to the New repre.sents. For example, the character designed it as well.- York production, yet is simple and ef Alan, a typical teenager played by Jeff “Simplicity is the factor,” Slane stated fective for the play. in reference to the "Equus” sdf: The set, Km, is in jeans and a sweatshirt. Anothw fa^of play pnaduction that which is budt of wooThnd metal in a goes on “behind the scenes,” is costume With a play like “Equus”. Reuther square was meant to be simple, design. This job belongs to faculty ^ne exi^ned that the play takes place stated that there was only so much that member Lucy Reuther. you can do with costumes. The designer in a lot of Wferent places, therefore the Thjs is JeMta^.Wh year at Ot ^ was created in a neutral seree so that must be careful so that the audience gets jt_wDuld not be overwhelming. terbein. A1qb£ with her feponsibilities the right interpretation of the character. as a teaching raq^ memter, she also Reuther said that “a lot of times costumes are over looked in contem porary shows,” but not so in this production. The horse head above is only an esample of the costumes that are pan of "Equus." page 4 , .October i8. 1984 ‘Equus’ pmvides entertainment for Homecoming By Julie Lynch, reporter century play. Dodrill hopes it will Dodrill said the purpose of having a many cases, the presence ot.the guest balance the comedy-drama, musical, guest actor program is two-fold: a solid . actor has inspired the students to work An engaging story writt^ by an im classical farce and favorite childhood professional actor’s performance sells even harder than usual to make ap aginative playwright will combine with tale which will all be performed during more tickets (there is a 10 percent in impression. the performance of a carefully selected the 1984-85 drama season. crease in season ticket sales this year) Dodrill said the program “helps guest actor to provide an exciting open Yet another explanation for choosing and, the program offers drama students bridge the gap between here and the ing for Otterbein’s 1984-85 drama “Equus” refers to the important message the opportunity to work with a profes professional worldv .?:i> , i season, says the play’s director. Shaffer attempts to communicate. In the sional who serves as a role model. In Dr. Charles W. Dodrill, cliairman play, the psychiatrist discovers a boy’s ()[ the department of theatre and dance and his own individual jjassion to ad at ()tterlx4n, is directing the colkge’s mire an image or idea lx‘yond humanity. fall production of “hxiuus,” which will "‘E(iuus’ explores our need for be performed October 18-21 in Cowan something in our lives bigger than Hall. ourselves,” said Dcxlrill. “'riiis play "F/iuus” is a stoiy of discovery in spixiks bundles, as a theatre piece, to which a psychiatrist explores a young people ot all ages.” n\iin’s motive for blinding six horses. Otterlxin’s guest actor program is I Dialogue between the psychiatrist and celebrating its 24th consecutive season the lx)y and flashl)acks lead to some this year with tlx aptx'anuice of Donal I revealing discoveries. Donnelly starring in “Equus” as According to Dcxlrill, this particular Psychiatrist Martin Dysart. play \\’as clxjsen for se\'eral reasons. One Dodrill has been in charge of acquir concerns the play’s format. All of the ing a guest actor to star in a production scenes in “Equus” will be performed on each year, and he claims tliat this is a or around a wooden platform on center difficult task. He said, “I’ve had to stage. cliase down actors in the craziest places "A g(xxi piece of theatre requires the in the world.” audieix'e Uj liiive as much of an iniiiginii- 4'he difficulty has provoked the tion as the actors,” Dixlrill commented, department to hire a casting agency, “and ‘Equus’ really asks the audience to which, this year, led them to Donnelly. use their imagination.” He is a highly respected actor who is Photo by Meg Scon Sixty audience members will be “terifically excited about working with Jeff Kin rehearses a scene from the upcoming production of *‘Equus'* which will. seated on the stage behind the platform. students,” commented Dodrill. open tonight at 8:15 p.m. in Cowan Hall. Dodrill hopes that their closeness to the play’s action will, help them get more invdved. Another for '‘Equife” being chosen is the fkt that it was written by Peter Shaffer, who according to Dodrill, is one'^of impQt:tant playwrights of this’cen^iy. "The sh^ thekricality of Shaffer’s plays is wond^-f fui;’hesaS« . ' ! ■ * The theatre departmentwants its pro^ gram to include a wide variety of gdod plays from the past and present in order to provide it?student actors with ex posure to many different kinds of roles. “Equus” falls into the category of 20th Play’s nudity no cause to blink today By KAREN E. HENDERSON______STAFF WRITER ~ A dramatization of the disfiguring of horses in the play “Equus” at Lake Erie College in Painesville has drawn more comment from students than a nude scene in (he same play. “Nudity in the theater is really old hat,” said Jake Rufli. Lake Erie College theater director. But the maiming of horses is a different story at a college where equestrian studies are a major part of the curriculum, he conceded, Rufli said a number of students, all horse lovers, questioned him about the selection of this particular play. ■ I had to pyplain that it's not about that." Rufli Miti. il ^ a play about human relaliunsliips.' ffe has not gotten any calls or questions about the nude scene from anyone except the press, he said. The play is based on a true story about a young boy. Alan, who loved horses and worked in a stable in England. One night, for no apparent reason, he blinded six horses. Esing flashbacks, the Peter Shaffer play depicts the forces at work in Alan’s mind which are gradu- allv brought out in conversations with a psychiatrist, played by Donald Scobel. In the brief nude scene. Alan, played by Londoner Josh Wank, makes love to a girl he has fallen in love with The girl. Jill, is played by Lake Erie junior Sarah Tetzloff. Rufli said the scene is ta.stefully done in a semi- darkened setting in the stable. The actors are rehearsing in their underwear. The first play at the college to include nudity was done about 10 years ago, when the college put on “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie." There also was nudity a few years back in “Dr. Faustus." “People see it every night on TV,” Rufli said. And college students need not fear that old Dobbin is going to be sacrificing his eyesight for the theater. Rufli said male actors wearing horse costumes bor rowed from the Cleveland Playhouse will depict the horses in a choreographed dream sequence suppos edly taking place in the young man s mind. ■ It’s a powerful, powerful play,” Rufli said. “I want it to be an artistic succes.*?" The play will be performed at 8 p.m. on Nov. 9.10. In. 16 and 17 at C.K. Rickel Theater. r^^nesday, Octoberi/. 1984 " - • Volume 9. No. 36 Westerville, Ohio 25 cents actor 1!^*k Ponnelly said This he 3^ '^^^^vlor results in him becoming Dysart’s patient, The relationship between the teenager and Dysart a personal crisis, creates rmi’ch Cowan"HaK*thP^^^^^^ The production runs Oct. 18-21 in drama and tension, Donnelly said. ■. w towan Hall on the campus of Otterbein College ^e play s subject matter and complexity make It a de- tin •narrlage, Dysart begins ones- tionlng his own profession and values. ’’ ^ powerful experience watching Strang another ^a* "lan act out his problem.s, Donnelly said. “ “ (etill'i’I*'' f !!.'.* '* '‘'"‘cult, the students and pro- sS,tSyS; ‘0 f aiTof puberty and a troubled family life take their Sinni:Xfen?'s“d"“"®’* »*■ The p^uction’s director, Charles Dodrill has a tremen Priven^rces he is unable to control, Strang, played by.. dous understanding of the script, Donnelly said. “As chair- ...... ^’ >(Codllnmd#BjR«g«24)..
id___Westerville SUBURBIA NEWS October 17.1964 •EQUUS (Continued from Page 1) man of the theatre and dance department, be generates great enthusiasm In the students;’’ he said. Donnelly’s extensive acting experience will help him meet the challenge of his part. 51nce coming to the United States from Ireland In 1966, Donnelly has appeared In many Broadway plays and has worked with many famous thesfHans. He greaUy enjoyed wotting with British actor James Ma son In Faith Healer, a play about a man who traveled around rural Ireland healing the sick, said DonnaUy. who I , portrayed his manager. !‘Healer’’ marked Mason’s return to Broadway after a long absence, DonnalJy said. . “Meeting him was a joy because I had seen many of his movies and was a great fan of his,’’Donnally said, i “He was InstincUvely a real genUeman and had a droU sense of humor.” % > Donnelly portrayed Dr. Treves In the Broadway produc- tlmi of “Elephant Man”, he said. Treves takes care of a man suffering from a disease which leaves him horribly de formed, he said. i lining the play’s two-year run, eight actors played the I sick man, Including rock singer David Bowie and Star Wan I a^ Mark Hamlll, be said. I f/ Although Bowie was a novice actor, he was “stupendous”. I in the role and a real crowd-pleaser, Donnelly said p i -'He/as very Intelligent and learned his role quickly.” * J>Onnet(y.sald. . ' '^wj^ put his training as a mime artist to good use in the ' part, a; i IS. <. Aojing is clearly a labor of love for DonneUy. This Jove ’ p hlin tacMe hIs latest c^e^ successfully, ^ 6 Columbus Citizen-Journal ★ ★ Fri., Oct. 19,1984 ‘EquusV One of Otterbein’s strongest productions to date By NANCY GILSON Donal Donnelly, the professional ac stroy passion. They cannot cfelstte and heavy wire hooves. The weight C-J Entertainment Editor “Equus” is staged much as it was tor in the central role of psychiatrist it.” '-oq on Broadway with a spare, slightly of the hooves makes a thick clomp Peter Shaffer, author of “Ama Martin Dysart. Donnelly is relaxed Jeff Kin is good as Strang.' Hd’ls abstract set by Michael Slane. A ing as the “horses” move. This natu deus ’ and “Elquus,” excells at psy and assured so his performance slightly built and fair and looks ibth platform serves as Dysart’s office, rally suggests the beasts’ power. doesn’t get in the way of the charac chological mysteries. One examines vulnerable and threatening whidh is the stable and the field where Alan Charles Dodrill directs the drama the pain of mediocrity and the other ter but he misses none of the psychi advantageous in this role. Exchanges takes his midnight rides. During this atrist’s regret and confusion. cleanly and perceptively. Fred Thay the pain of normalcy. Neither is easy between Dysart and Alan, crucial in last scene, lights dim, the platform is er’s lighting is dramatic. All compo for the actors or the audience. •Dysart is treating a teenage boy, “Equus,” are electric. ' ’' swiftly rotated and Alan’s gallop be nents work well to create a strong Alan Strang, who blinded six horses. The rest of the cast is competent comes an erotic, frightening and ex psychological drama. Otterbein College has mounted an Dysart must unravel the impetus be although women in two key rj)lcs — ceptionally strong scene. outstanding “Equus.” It is one of the hind the hideous crime and in doing “Eguus” continues through Oct Laura Stitt and Jodie Silk' — over The horses are portrayed by six 21 in Otterbein College's Cowan college’s most professional-looking so, discovers a passion he envies. He act. men with steely wire horse heads productions to date. can restore Alan to health but the Hall. boy will lose a part of himself forev- Much of the credit must go to er. As Dysart says, “doctors can de