Putting lower voltage rated caps in series to achieve the required cap.
worries me because the adding voltage equalization resistors across the
caps would increase the current pulled from the marginally rated power
transformer.

eq. resistors are mostly for "leaky" caps like electrolytics. Mylar,
polypropes or ceramic won't exhibit much of a leakage at all.

I have made filters for high frequency switching power supplies out of
series ceramics with no eq. resistors.

Also made a few voltage multipliers for oscopes that lost the HV xfmer
winding. I used mylar in series, worked for years. No eq. res. there
either.

I am a big fan of eq. resistors in electrolytic applications. I would say
for this application don't worry about eq resistors.