Equus on Broadway! Or, How I Fell in Love with Daniel Radcliffe

On the spur of the moment, Lindsay and I went to the TKTS booth in Times Square on Saturday night to see if we could get cheap Broadway tix. I got there first, checked the boards, and noticed that EQUUS was available for 50% off tix! Linds and I had really wanted to see this show, but, due to price and schedules, we had both resigned ourselves to the fact that we weren't going to see it.

Nonetheless - there we were - we got tickets!! We were able to get seats in the fourth row of the Mezzanine, and we knew we were in for a roller coaster of a show. As the website states,

About Equus

For the first time in over 30 years, a new production of EQUUS will be seen on Broadway after a sold-out run in London’s West End.

Alan Strang (Daniel Radcliffe) seems a normal, obedient 17-year old with a passion for horses. Then one night he blinds six horses with a hoof pick. What drove him to it? His life seems routine, his family loving, his pursuits harmless and yet he has been placed under psychiatric surveillance - an unresponsive patient who is woken each night by terrible nightmares. Only psychiatrist Martin Dysart (Richard Griffiths) seems able to grasp the answer to this psychological puzzle.

Richard Griffiths, whose incredible stage and screen career spans two decades and who won a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway production of The History Boys, stars alongside Daniel Radcliffe, best known for playing Harry Potter in all five of the feature films based on J.K. Rowling's best-selling books.

This production of Peter Shaffer’s Tony Award-winning play, directed by Thea Sharrock and designed by John Napier, demonstrates that this ground-breaking play is as relevant and shocking as it was when it was first performed over 30 years ago.

It was brilliant, horrifying, moving, and engaging. Since both of us are big fans of psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, we loved the way that Freudian and Jungian ideas flowed throughout the show.

After the show, we decided to stick around at the stage door and try to get Richard Griffiths and Daniel Radcliffe's autographs. We were able to get very close to the barricade set up by security, and we waited in the 20 degree weather.

Then, Richard Griffiths came out (Linds snapped these pics with her cellphone).....

Everyone screamed in excitement (I wonder if Mr. Griffiths has ever felt this much like a rockstar?!?!). Lindsay insisted on engaging him in conversation: "Mr. Griffiths? Mr. Griffiths? Your hat looks very warm!" Griffiths: "It better be." Lindsay: "Is it from Alaska?" Griffiths: "No, it is from Moscow." Lindsay: "Mr. Griffiths, we are of Russian Descent!")

But, that was nothing compared to the excitement of getting Daniel Radcliffe's autograph (Mr. Harry Potter, himself!!!!!!!!!!!). He came over to our area first, and he SIGNED MY PLAYBILL FIRST!!! I got the first autograph of the night. I said, "Daniel, you are wonderful!" (I know, so eloquent....). He looked up into my eyes, with his electric blue eyes, and said in his delicious accent, "Thank you."

Wow.

Can you tell that we had a great time? We risked frostbite for them, but it was so worth it. Hooray for Broadway!!

What celebrities have you met? Have any fun stories???

I finished it!

A few hours ago, I finished the final book in the Harry Potter series.

Wow.

Just some of the words that come to mind at this moment: joy, satisfaction, grief, love, and exhaustion. What a ride. Additionally, as if the book itself wouldn't have been enough, the epilogue was the best part of the whole series - what a treat! Rowling is truly a gifted artist.

It has been so long since a book has made me cry so hard at its completion. The ending of the book (and I am trying so hard not to give anything away) was just perfect, and I couldn't stop the tears from flowing - what a beautiful choice!

Now, excuse me, as I go savor this feeling a little while longer. Or, maybe, I might go start back at book 1 and re-read all seven books. That would be awesome right now :)

What did you think of the book??

Shhhh - Still on Harry Potter Lockdown

Okay, this has been the hardest endeavor ever. I am only on page 500 of the new Harry Potter book, and I have had to be SO CAREFUL not to overhear anyone discussing the book. Normally, I read faster than this, but I have definitely been taking my time. I am just so sad that this is the last book, so I have been slowly taking my time, and savoring every word.

And yet, there are all these people who keep talking about it. Just tonight, my mom called to gloat - "I finished it! Oh my goodness, I have to take a deep breath." I had to scream at her (and that is only a slightly hyperbolic statement): "Don't say ANOTHER WORD!!!"

I don't want to hear any possible hints about the outcome. Unfortunately, because this has been such a ginormous popular culture phenomenon, it is virtually impossible to get away from spoilers, commentaries, or reviews. And yet, I keep trucking.

Oh, no - I am wasting valuable reading time just by blogging!!! Wish me luck, and I will keep you all up to date :)