He also is a Harry Potter fan from way back—the kind of rabid fan who sees the movies at midnight screenings the day they open and lines up outside a bookstore when a new title’s about to go on sale. But “I’ve never told Dan that,” Liff admits.

Of Radcliffe, he adds: “The first day or two [of rehearsals], it was very strange, just ’cause you’ve watched this kid grow up. But he was instantly charming right from the get-go, knew everyone’s name by the end of the first day, ate lunch with us in the greenroom. So now he’s not Harry Potter anymore. And certainly when you see him do the material in the show, your perspective changes.”

Radcliffe’s dressing room is several floors below the one Liff shares with the other horse actors, yet “every day he climbs the six flights to our dressing room, and we do a group warmup.”

BH: So, what is it like working with this cast?
CM: They're all great. I love working with Richard [Griffiths] and Daniel [Radcliffe]. Richard is a fabulous storyteller and just a good guy. And, Dan is very sweet, hardworking kid.

BH: In the Daniel Radcliffe interview in The New York Times, those qualities came across. He doesn't seem so struck with his own fame.
CM: Not at all. It's all about his doing the best job he can. Very appreciative of having been cast as Harry Potter, but never making much of it. It's just part of who he is, like being tall or not tall. You know what I mean? It isn't something that he wears. He's not a slick movie star. He's just a playful, funny person.

BH: How do you feel about the positive reception to the show? It was packed the night I was there, and the crowd was very enthusiastic.
CM: It's been great. Daniel Radcliffe has an enormous fan base. The thing I notice the most is how young much of the audience is because of that, and how nice that is. We need to get younger people into the audiences so those people realize that the theaters are worth keeping alive. A lot of the theaters I've worked in have an old subscription base. I look up there and I think "Who's going to replace you guys in 20 or 30 years?" If this show ignites 10 new future theater goers every night, that would be great. I think that's the best thing, and that's Dan bringing those people in. But they come in to see a movie star and they leave having seen an actor.

BH: The reviews have been really respectful and positive. Sometimes, when a movie star is in a show, there's a backlash.
CM: They're super nice, and he deserves that, because he's really good.

BH: One of my sisters and her husband saw the show recently. They have seen all the Harry Potter movies with their children. They were so impressed with his work in Equus. Within five minutes, he made them forget all about Harry Potter.
CM: It would be a hard part to do if there were not any preconceived notions, let alone having to overcome the image of Harry Potter. And he does it so well.