It's Equus, Not Gossipuus!

Says Timothy Lewis of Brooklyn, NY:

Dear Theater Talk,

I was offended by Michael Riedel's gossipy discussion about Richard Burton's preparations for his run as Dysart in the Broadway production of Equus. I saw both Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins in the role and they were both excellent. Burton was particularly engaging. He spoke the text so beautifully that the audience leaned forward to take in the pure physical pleasure of the sound of his voice and he underplayed the part right up to the last monologue when he literally blew the roof off the theater. On very rare occasions in the theater have I had my heart taken from me and lifted to the rafters but that evening was just such an occasion. Burton's performance that night was transcendent.

Who cares if he had trouble with the lines (and the booze) while in rehearsal and why should cheap gossip be the focus of Riedel's commentary? The fact is that Burton was one of the greatest actors of our time and that he did a marvelous job in Equus. To suggest that his greatness was only limited to his early successes and that we should chastise his later indulgences in morally superior hindsight is to diminish Burton's many accomplishments and the also craft of acting. Certainly we can compliment the current production without having to take cheap shots at those who are no longer with us to defend themselves.