Hogwarts Herald

Not only are critics up in arms over Daniel Radcliffe appearing nude on stage in Equus, they’re now up in arms over his onstage smoking.

Keep in mind Daniel doesn’t smoke in real life…it’s just what his role in Equus calls for.

I’m a personal critic of smoking…I think it’s disgusting, unhealthy and anyone who smokes is basically a…well, it rhymes with witch…to Big Tobacco. It may seem cool and rebelious, but basically you’re just letting Big Business control your life, health and well-being. That doesn’t make you cool…it makes you a big, smelly, unhealthy loser. It’s rather sad, really.

If a prescription drug is shown to cause heart attacks in a handful of the people, it’s immediately taken off the market. Cigarette smoking is the direct cause of 1600 American deaths per day…yet the Tobacco Industry isn’t going anywhere soon.

So I can understand why anti-smoking organizations are up in arms. But I also feel in this case…the play calls for it. It’s in the script and any change to appease critics is akin to censorshiop. Censorship is not the answer.

Plus…this is an adult play: nudity; sexual themes; smoking. There shouldn’t be any impressionable children seeing this play, anyway.

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Today’s Chicago Tribune looks at “All things Harry Potter” in their “Potter Watch” column.

What can you find in the column?

** News of Daniel Radcliffe’s new London play, Equus.
** A countdown to the 5th movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
** A countdown to the 7th and final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

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Squashing some rumors that Warner Bros. was displeased with Daniel Radcliffe’s role in the upcoming play Equus (in which Daniel appears nude), they released the following statement:

“Daniel Radcliffe is an extremely talented actor, as well as a great collaborator and friend to Warner Bros. Pictures. We’ve had great experiences working with him on our films and fully support him in the artistic choices he makes as an actor.”

Daniel Radcliffe defends his decision to bare all in a new production of Equus, according to an article in The Post Chronicle.

In Daniel’s words:

“I’m fine about it. Equus is an iconic play. The nude scene is part of it. I can’t do it with my pants on. That would be rubbish. We’ve done the scene a couple of times in rehearsal. I had no particular qualms. There’s nothing that would stop me getting my kit off if that’s what the work demands.

“The key to serious acting is to lose your inhibitions, to become free and fearless. I feel Ok about my body. Not totally, of course, but no one my age does…but I’ve gone to the gym to make sure. And many of the actors I admire, like Gary Oldman, have gone naked.”

In the course of a day or so Daniel Radcliffe has gone from the boy your parents would love to see you bring home, to the bad boy who has your dad polishing his rifle. Some parents are mad.

One of the publicity photos shows a topless and buffed Radcliffe being hugged by a naked woman. Another shows him leaning against bales of hay as he stares up at the topless woman. A third has him posing in front of a white horse…

“We as parents feel Daniel should not appear nude. Our nine-year-old son looks up to him as a role model…” one parent wrote.

Another said: “I am curious as to how and why his parents said this was okay.”

Daniel’s role in Equus is a difficult role for anyone to play, let alone a 17 year-old. Especially a 17 year-old who is such a prominent figure in the world of children and teenagers. (Begin my editorializing) But he is an actor.

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“Where’s his Invisibility Cloak now?” an article in the Telegraph today shows a Daniel Radcliffe in a publicity shot for his new play, Equus. As you can see, there’s no doubt about why this image is creating such a stir…as is the anticipation for Equus to open. Daniel will be acting in the outfit God made him.

This certainly isn’t Daniel as Harry Potter—Daniel’s desire to begin transitioning away from his Harry Potter persona is right on track. No one is mistaking him as Harry Potter here.

Apart from the obvious reason for all of the buzz surrounding Equus, it’s supposed to be a very fine play.

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