Henrik Ibsen’s work as a playwright was shocking for its time. His take on taboo subject matter nearly made him an outcast for his work in its inception, but today his work is considered to be incredibly socially relevant. Most theatre goers know his famous play A Doll’s House but there’s another play of his that gives it a run for its money, and that play is Ghosts. It’s a play that puts heavy emphasis on the pressure of societal standards, particularly where family reputation is concerned. Adapted and directed by Richard Eyre, the show was revived in 2014 and staged at the Trafalgar Studios in London.
Most theatre goers know his famous play A Doll’s House but there’s another play of his that gives it a run for its money, and that play is Ghosts.
Ghosts follows Helene Alving, a fairly wealthy widow who is intentionally distributing the wealth of her late husband so as to build a new orphanage in his memory. She is mentally plagued by the memories of her self-admitted miserable time with her husband, and goes through her current life filled with regret and bitterness with the knowledge that she chose to stick around through all of the bad times instead of truly living the life of fulfilment she’s always wished of having. Much of the reason for this comes from the expectations of her pastor, and society as a whole, as during this time period it was one’s moral duty and obligation to honour a marriage regardless of how damaged it is, and for the sake of public opinion, save face and keep up the proper appearances.
Much more could be said, but seeing the play is advised to truly grasp the depth of it all. The actors all do a well enough job to keep the play interesting, and Eyre succeeds as a director here with also making for an adaptation that’s easy to follow and listen to as far as dialogue goes. The play can be a bit melodramatic at times, though most people in the world today likely won’t have to deal with the issues in the play, or at the very least, not to the extent these characters do, so that can be overlooked. The scenes with Pastor Manders and Mrs. Alving (played by Adam Kotz and Lesley Manville) are amongst the more exciting parts of the play, and the character Oswald (Alving’s son, played by Jack Lowden) probably gives the most in terms of performance as he’s able to effectively convey many moods, ideas, and emotions throughout. The set, which is meant to be Alving’s home, is a winner here so Tim Hatley deserves a nod for his beautiful design and the lighting was also reflective of the plays dark vibe so Peter Mumford is allowed equal praises.
Henrik’s Ghosts is a commentary on a plethora of different themes. Maybe he was even ahead of his time, but one thing he wasn’t, was “safe”. Another show that’s available for viewing on digitaltheatre.com, this one is worth a look. Opinions will vary on Ghosts, but it is definitely a play that will leave people with plenty to talk about.
