Hedda Gabler, Richmond Theatre

Richmond Theatre reverberated to the sound of laughter as well as pistol fire, an impressive achievement in Adrian Noble’s new production of the gun-toting, heart breaking Hedda Gabler.

Written by Ibsen in 1890 after the failure of an ill fated love affair, Hedda Gabler is one of his most controversial plays. Slated by the critics at the time who called the it immoral, it was only the dramatists keenest supporters, including George Bernard Shaw, who lent credence to the work. The play is now regarded as ground breaking and very much ahead of it’s time. For any actress this is the most challenging of roles.

Rosamund Pike however commands the stage perfectly in this all star cast as the unhappy Hedda, recently returning from her honeymoon with her new husband George played masterfully by Robert Glenister. Hedda, bored and frustrated rails against the confines of her crystal cage, castigating George’s busybody Aunt Juliana, consummately played by Anna Carteret. Adrian Noble injects a great deal of humour and irony into the First Act which cleverly counter points with the dramatic events in Act Two.

Hedda’s disenchantment tips over into tragedy when she is told an old lover and recovering alcoholic Eilert Loevborg is in town. When it is revealed Eilert is competing for an academic post thought to be promised to George, and is also romantically involved with a disagreeable old school friend of Hedda’s, sparks start to fly. Boredom and frustration soon turn into discontented manipulation and ruthless ambition as Hedda starts to destabilise the still besotted Eilert; determined he will not threaten to steal away a lucrative job offer from her amiable but average husband.

Colin Tierney beautifully portrays the brilliant and lovelorn Eilert, blind to Hedda’s ruthless game plan he is putty in her hands. When a new ground breaking manuscript is lost by Eilert and finds it’s way into Hedda’s possession, she holds the key to Eilert’s destruction and ironically her own.

It is a great credit to the distinguished cast and Adrian Noble’s skilful direction that this production feels fresh, contemporary and relevant. It is only perhaps with an enlightened view of the equality of the sexes that Hedda Gabler strikes a cord with audiences now that was impossible in Victorian times. I think Ibsen would have been pleased with the glow of recognition that was so lacking in his lifetime.

Liz Colbert