The “Harry Potter” star branches out
Daniel Radcliffe gained international stardom playing the role of a preteen wizard in Harry Potter and is now exploring new roles as he will make his Broadway debut playing a disturbed stable boy in the revival of Peter Shaffer’s play, Equus, in Fall 2008.
Opening night at the Broadhurst in New York City is scheduled for Sept. 25, and the production will play a 22-week engagement through Feb. 8, 2009, according to playbill.com.
Radcliffe made his West End leading-role debut in Shaffer’s 1973 drama at London’s Gielgud Theatre on Feb. 27, 2007, also according to playbill.com.
Emily Ridgely, a senior speech, language and hearing sciences major, said she thinks that if Radcliffe is truly a great actor, he would be able to break away from his Harry Potter days.
“I don’t think he would have a problem with breaking away. I think a lot of actors are able to,” Ridgely said. “I’ve heard he is a good actor so I think he will be able to take on new roles.”
He earned rave reviews in the London production of the Tony Award-winning play and lots of media attention because he appeared naked onstage, which is a stray from his wizard days.
The play tells the story of a psychiatrist, played by Richard Griffiths, a Tony Award-winning actor, who tries to treat Alan Strang, (played by Radcliffe) a 17-year-old troubled stable boy who has a pathological sexual fascination with horses.
One CU student does not think that people will take Radcliffe seriously as an actor because they will only remember him as Harry Potter.
“I don’t think he will be successful in other movies,” said Colin Hogan, a sophomore chemical and biological engineering major. “I think people will just look at him as if he’s younger than he actually is-they will still think he is Harry Potter.”
Equus opened at the National Theatre in 1973 and became a huge sensation. It reopened in 2007 with Radcliffe as the star.
Kelsey Bernal, a sophomore math major believes that if Radcliffe has the acting skills, he will succeed.
“I think he is seen as Harry Potter but if he’s a strong enough actor I think he can break the mold and play a different role,” said Bernal.
According to news.bbc.co.uk, Radcliffe commented on the prospect of bringing the London show to American audiences on Broadway.
“I would be very nervous because I think that (the audiences are) even more discerning than in London,” Radcliffe said.
Radcliffe’s fears are coming true, and audiences in America will be the ones to help decide if Radcliffe is a true actor, or if he should just stick to Hogwarts.
Contact Campus Press staff writer Melanie Cohn at Melanie.Cohn@colorado.edu.
