ABSTRACT
A review of Peter Shaffer’s earlier play The Royal Hunt of the Sun is necessary to examine certain genetic and dynamic constellations that recur, although in somewhat different form, in Equus. Martin Dysart’s relationship with his patient has many features of a twinship. Alan Strang has the same initials as Anthony Shaffer and, during the rehearsals for the play, Peter Shaffer developed a close friendship with the young actor who played Strang. Prior to beginning Equus, Shaffer had been making very little progress with another play which he set aside after hearing his friend’s tale about the original crime. In portraying Mozart as a foul-mouthed, self-centred “enfant terrible” and alcoholic whom Salieri eventually destroys, Shaffer may be taking excessive liberty with historical fact but this interpretation is quite consistent with his prior attempts to confront in his plays questions of disparate attributes and worldly recognition amongst twins.
