Theatre review: Ghosts, or, Those Who Return
Yes, I did manage to find the Arcola Theatre without too much trouble in the end. To be honest I think the directions on the theatre's website make it seem harder to find than it actually is. So time for another Ibsen play, this time Ghosts, a play so shocking it was banned when first written. The reason being that it deals with syphilis, and this new version by Rebecca Lenkiewicz has been criticised by some for actually including the word in the script, something Ibsen himself didn't do. I don't know, I don't think it detracts from the story, and times change, I'm not sure nowadays all the nods, winks and horrified glances mean everyone in the audience will pick up on the subtext.
In any case, I liked Lenkiewicz's script and Bijan Sheibani's direction for making this an Ibsen production that goes along at a speedy pace (1hr 45 mins without an interval) and although it might not appeal to purists it'd make a good introduction to Ibsen's world. I couldn't make my mind up about Suzanne Burden's Mrs Alving; at times I liked her abrupt delivery, at others I felt she didn't show enough emotion. Harry Lloyd as Osvald puts in another good performance, although that does only leave him with 50/50 in the good/shit performance stakes in my eyes. He's as pretty as ever though, which shouldn't really be allowed since he has a mustache in this - I mean, nobody looks good with a 'tache!
Ghosts, or, Those Who Return by Henrik Ibsen in a version by Rebecca Lenkiewicz is booking until the 22nd of August at the Arcola Theatre.
In any case, I liked Lenkiewicz's script and Bijan Sheibani's direction for making this an Ibsen production that goes along at a speedy pace (1hr 45 mins without an interval) and although it might not appeal to purists it'd make a good introduction to Ibsen's world. I couldn't make my mind up about Suzanne Burden's Mrs Alving; at times I liked her abrupt delivery, at others I felt she didn't show enough emotion. Harry Lloyd as Osvald puts in another good performance, although that does only leave him with 50/50 in the good/shit performance stakes in my eyes. He's as pretty as ever though, which shouldn't really be allowed since he has a mustache in this - I mean, nobody looks good with a 'tache!
Ghosts, or, Those Who Return by Henrik Ibsen in a version by Rebecca Lenkiewicz is booking until the 22nd of August at the Arcola Theatre.