Village Scene Productions Presents EQUUS April 13-24

Village Scene Productions (VSP) in association with the Rialto Theatre is thrilled to present Peter Shaffer's Equus playing at the historic Rialto Theatre from April 13-24. Paul Van Dyck directs this modern classic while choreographer Jacqueline Van de Geer brings the chorus of horses to life. Davyn Ryall, artistic director of VSP, is excited by the company's passion for the text, "I'm very proud to be able to feature this awesome ensemble On the Rialto stage. Our local artists have linked their talents to create, collaborate and perform in this rare theatricAl Pearl."

Equus is the potent story of psychiatrist Martin Dysart seeking to understand the religious and sexual mystery that leads 17-year old Alan Strang to deliberately blind six horses. Each forces the other to question the legitimacy of their passion, or lack thereof. In this time of devout extremism, Equus' themes of worship, sacrifice and ritual reveal that no single act, even the most horrific, can be judged solely in black and white, but is the catalyst to examine the complexity of the grey areas in between. Here, in this gripping psychodrama, both men face the truth about their situation.

Director Paul Van Dyck is inspired directing this haunting and sexy play; "Most people know this story as the one about the kid who blinded six horses, which is how playwright Peter Shaffer found his impetus to write the play, having discovered a similar headline in a newspaper. Shaffer never researched the story further; he didn't care about what actually happened, he wanted to grasp why it happened." Though people with experience in the field will find some of Dr. Dysart's methods dated, Van Dyck sees the dramatic outcome as relevant today as when the play was first staged, "We understand why the boy did it, we empathize with him, and perhaps, like Dysart, some of us will begin to envy him."

Davyn Ryall is delighted to be producing one of his favourite plays, "Besides the thrill of collaboration, I am turned on by a play that provokes the mind, the senses and conversation. Every audience member participates in the judgment of Alan Strang." For Ryall, many of today's acts of incomprehensible torture and inhumane violence towards other creatures and each other are seemingly justified by faith, "This is an innate part of our universally shared human history back to pre-historic times. Hence starts the debate over Equus... " He admires Van Dyck's body of work, "Paul will be able to take my vision for the production and bring it to a whole new level artistically."

André Simoneau plays lead horse Nugget in the Movement Ensemble. For him, the play examines to what extent an individual should repress his or her primal urges in order to fit in; how we define 'normal', "What role, if any, does psychology have to play in determining moral responsibility for our actions?" Similarly, for Julia Dawiskiba, also in the Movement Ensemble, Equus is about secret passion and at what point it becomes unhealthy, "I believe audiences will leave with a mysterious sensation of their own hush-hush passions." She also wonders about the effects on people raised in secluded and controlled environments, "We are able to communicate less and less in this daily technology-bursting world that we live in."

Ezio Carosielli, owner of the Rialto Theatre, built in 1924, is eager to bring the venue back to its former glory, "For too long the theatre lay dormant and unused; we intend to reanimate and revitalize it. We see The Rialto as a center for the performing arts: open and inclusive, multilingual and multicultural, grounded in the present yet not afraid to wink at the past." He is happy to be involved with Equus, "The Rialto Theatre is proud to present such a prestigious and provocative play that examines, with intelligence and purpose, the human condition."

Equus stars Noel Burton as psychiatrist Martin Dysart and Bobby Lamont as Alan Strang. Nadia Verrucci, Alarey Alsip, Clive Brewer, Victoria Barkoff, Karl P. Werleman, Heather Huff and André Simoneau round out the talented cast. The riveting Movement Ensemble is made up of Jaime Del Aguila, Julia Dawiskiba, Ellie Moon, Fred Nguyen, Kristina Sandev and Nicholas Santillo.

Mélanie Ann Fallnbigl, costumes, masks and make-up; André Simoneau, set; Davyn Ryall, costumes and set; Jody Burkholder, lights; and Paul Van Dyck, sound; form the creative design team. The stage manager is Sarah Stupar.
For mature audiences- the play contains coarse language, adult content and nudity.

"Just to watch their skins. The way their necks twist, and sweat shines in the folds..." - Alan

EQUUS

Village Scene Productions in association with the Rialto Theatre

Playing at the Rialto Theatre, 5723 avenue du Parc

April 13-24
Tuesdays to Thursdays at 7:30 pm,
Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday April 24 at 8:00pm
Matinées: Sundays at 2pm
Tickets: $30 regular, $24 students/seniors
Two-for-one: Preview, Wednesday, April 13 (tickets at the door only)
Advance ticket purchase: La Vitrine www.lavitrine.com, 145 Ste-Catherine W.,
Priape- 1311 Ste-Catherine St. east, EM Café- 5718 avenue du Parc
Information: Tel: 514 965-9VSP (877) www.villagescene.com

Benefit performances: Friday, April 15- community radio station, Radio Centre-Ville CINQ 102.3FM (regular ticket prices), Sat., April 16- RefugeRR, rescue & retirement ranch for horses. Tickets $50 including welcome cocktail event at 7 pm; play at 8 pm; meet & greet talk back session with cast; and performance by Soul Fusion at 11 pm.
Easter Sunday buffets: Easter Sunday Brunch buffet service 11:00-13:00 $20; Dinner buffet service 17:00-19:00 $25. Contact the Rialto for reservations at: 514 268-7069 or ecarosielli@gmail.com

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