O.C. THEATER REVIEW : The Vanguard’s ‘Equus’ Finds Gait for Unstable Characters

Peter Shaffer’s play “Amadeus” attests to the fact that the playwright was trained as a composer. It also shows in his other plays by their musical form and frequently soaring, melodic dialogue.

The best example is his early drama “Equus,” a sort of fugue in aberrations, a sonata examining the far reaches of sanity. It would be hard to find another production of the play that understands this musicality better than the Vanguard Theatre Ensemble’s.

Daniel Rosenblatt conducts the script as well as directing it with insight into the darkness within a boy twisted with misguided passion, but also within the psychiatrist who helps the boy to lose his passion, of which the doctor is ultimately jealous.

David Billman’s setting works well in the Vanguard Theatre’s small space, and Virginia Lynn Rudolph’s lighting focuses the drama in its proper shades and shadows, except during those few moments when she allows everything to go blindingly bright.

Her design becomes an integral part of the game that goes on between Dr. Dysart (M. Isaac Weishaus) and his 17-year-old patient, Alan Strang (James Cude).

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The strength of any production of this play depends on its Dysart and Alan, and this production is right on target in both cases.

Weishaus’ Dysart is intricate, finely shaded, and the actor hurdles the doctor’s long expository monologues with ease. He knows where Shaffer’s poetry is and how to make it sing.

Cude’s Alan is exceptional. When Cude becomes the 6-year-old Alan, he looks 6. His troubled teen-ager is heartbreaking, and in those moments when he’s overcome with joy or terror, the emotions are real and startling. It’s an impressive performance.

Melissa Rivers and David Billman are both strong as his bickering, controlling parents, and Elizabeth Swenson is a charmer as the stable girl who brings him close to his beloved horses and also to a fateful act of savagery.

The Horses (Christian Lefler, Michelle Knight) are very effective. They are led by Hugh Haiker, who is good as both the horseman who befriends the 6-year-old and as Nugget, the horse of Alan’s fantasy. Also good are Paul Meitzler as the uninvolved stable owner and Jill Cary Martin as the magistrate who pulls the boy out of the prison system for Dysart’s help.

* “Equus,” Vanguard Theatre, 699-A S. State College Blvd., Fullerton. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 5 p.m. Ends April 3. $12-$14; (714) 526-8007. Running time: 2 hours, 35 minutes. M. Isaac Weishaus: Dr. Martin Dysart

James Cude: Alan Strang

Hugh Haiker: Nugget/Horseman

Michelle Knight: Nurse/Horse

Jill Cary Martin: Hesther Salomon

Melissa Rivers: Dora Strang

David Billman: Frank Strang

Paul Meitzler: Harry Dalton

Elizabeth Swenson: Jill Mason

Christian Lefler: Trooper

A Vanguard Theatre Ensemble production of the Peter Shaffer play. Directed by Daniel Rosenblatt. Set: David Billman. Lighting: Virginia Lynn Rudolph. Horsehead design: Jeff Rochford. Horse movement design: Caprice Spencer Rothe.