Nudity, beastiality, religion and animal abuse made appearances on Keene State College’s stage Oct. 21 to Oct. 25.
The play “Equus,” artistically exhibited taboo themes that invited audience members to explore and question social norms.
The play centered on possibly schizophrenic 17-year-old Alan Strang, who “goes on an emotional journey,” Taylor Jorgensen, KSC senior and lead in “Equus,” said.
Contributed Photo / Will Wrobel
In the play, Strang is forced to dissect his mental breakdown after mutilating horses in his care.
Throughout his journey, the dark magnitudes of religion, sexuality and devout passion are portrayed.
KSC’s unique rendition of “Equus,” directed by Resident Artist Peggy Rae Johnson and Theatre and Dance Professor William Seigh, incorporated dance and artistic movement through the role of the five horses.
The actors playing horses wore iron horse heads and offered an authentic effect with their horse-like mannerisms and majestic composure.
Assistant Stage Manager and KSC Junior, Becky Yankowitz, said it’s important to talk about mature topics because they exist.
“We need to recognize that change is happening now. Our generation needs to look at how norms are being altered,” she explained. Theatergoers must be willing to face unanswered questions.
“Equus” brings up questions but doesn’t answer them. The audience is challenged to reply. This is entertainment that forces its recipients to question taboo staples within our society, while leaving them “satisfied and hungry for change in their lives,” Jorgensen explained, “This is a good resource for social norm reconstruction.”
“It is important to discuss hard topics. If they are ignored out of fear or feeling uncomfortable, we rob ourselves of understanding. To not try and understand something is to live ignorantly, and so many of the world’s problems stem from that. We have to understand people’s opinions so that we can respect them,” Jorgensen added.
In the past few years, Keene’s theatre department has gravitated to scripts with darker themes, religion and “make-you-think” plots.
Bailey Ramsdell, KSC senior and Putnam Theater usher, explained that providing students and community with theater that challenges the mind is what KSC has recently strived to do.
“The ‘Equus’ script is brilliant in that it asks its audience these questions and then asks its actors to have the courage to push these boundaries and to do things that are out of the norm, even for theater. This is what all good theater should do,” Jorgensen said.
Northampton High School Senior, Connor Paradis, commuted from Massachusetts to see KSC’s “Equus” for ideas when directing his own version in his student production.
For his high school audience, Paradis said that it is important to provide a vehicle in which students can explore mental illness.
Paradis noted that in the past few years, self-harm and peer violence due to mental breakdowns have become more prevalent.
To bring the discussion of this theme to a younger demographic is wise, as Paradis added, “Theater is a good way to explore it.”
Yankowitz said the audience on opening night responded positively, despite the tense subject matter.
The actors in the production of the performance responded positvely as well.
She explained that everyone’s inner five-year-old was challenged when they were expected to keep composure during awkward scenes.
“Laughing is a natural reaction but it wasn’t allowed for rehearsal. The actors got over it after a while and the audience will too,” Yankowitz explained.
“The funniest moments came from being in intense scenes and completely just breaking character and reminded of ‘Oh that’s right, we’re allowed to have fun,’” Jorgensen added.
Yankowitz claimed the play helped her “become less sheltered, put my own views aside to learn more. Every person in the audience should experience this.”
In the first act of the play, Alan’s father Frank Stang says, “Things change if you let them.”
Supporting taboo subject matters is how some KSC students think that theater will aid social progression.
Olivia Schiaffo can be contacted at oschiaffo@keene-equinox.com
