Daniel's Last Performance in Equus

Yesterday Saturday June 9th was Dan last performance in the theater production Equus. Daniel made his West End leading-role debut in Shaffer's 1973 drama at London's Gielgud on Feb. 27, Dan drew positive reviews from the critics and also fans.

Part of the cast in this production were Tony-winning star of The History Boys, Richard Griffiths; Jenny Agutter, best known for her appearance in the 1970 film version of The Railway Children; and Will Kemp, star of Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake.

Thanks to dr.com we have a small report of what occured that night:

"There is usually a partial standing ovation, for Dan and Richard, but there was a unanimous standing ovation as soon as the horses came out. Everyone looked choked and Will was beaming and Joanna was almost in tears and Dan and Richard came out and we screamed and they hugged and Dan looked utterly, utterly awestruck and thrilled and Dan-like and adorable, and we stood and we clapped and we cheered and Richard made shushing motions with his hands and we shushed and stayed standing and I was right in front of them.

Richard said they’d had an amazing run and some shows are set in stone from the first night, but this was a work in progress until tonight, and the audiences were part of it and were amazing, and a mix of old theatre goers and people who’d never been before...

Dan was gazing at him and Joanna was blinking back tears and Jenny was nodding, and it was wonderful and then they applauded us and they went off and we clapped and I was still shaking.

A teenage girl climbed onto the stage and I thought she was going to steal Alan’s clothes, but she followed them into the wings and a stage hand ran after her from the prompt corner, and the usher ran up to the stage and she slunk back to the front of the stage, all pouting and hard done by, and climbed down."

And finally there are also rumours that Thea Sharrock's production will be heading for New York next spring with, it is thought, Radcliffe and Griffiths reprising their roles in a May or June 2008 transfer. There are also plans for a production in Australia.

I hope to see Daniel in this masterpiece production next year in New York!!