AUDITORIUM

  • HOME

  • OUR STORY

  • FEATURES

  • REVIEWS

  • CONTACT

  • More

    Ghosts of Memory

    ✮✮✮✮

    Ibsen's Ghosts

    Trafalgar Studios | London

    directed by Richard Eyre

    Ibsen’s play was written to shock, and succeeded; at the time, the Daily Telegraph christened it “a loathsome sore unbandaged, a dirty act done publically... literary carrion.” The play’s carnal subversions and frenzies now sound muffled in a way that Nora’s final door slam of A Doll’s House isn’t, quite, but Richard Eyre’s harrowing staging means that these ghosts have lost none of their power to haunt.

    Tim Hatley’s set is beautiful and painterly, with perspex panels that mean the shadowed figures in the next room are always close – ready to eavesdrop on the family secrets spilling softly out. The play’s warns that these ghosts can’t stay hidden long, with revelations foreshadowed in quiet confidences, unheard but noticed by the play’s younger characters. Ghosts are dark stains imprinted on memories, that like the holes in a player-piano reel are inevitably fallen into and repeated as time rolls on.

    Helene is at the play’s centre – a kind of parallel Nora, but one who stayed with her family and suppressed her pain into quiet, agonised domesticity. As the play starts she’s a widow treasuring up the memory of her dead husband in an orphanage built as, and with, his legacy. But the local priest, Pastor Manders, is chipping away at its unsteady foundations, and her plan to tell her son Oswald the truth about his father threatens to destabilise them altogether. Meanwhile, the bored and pettish maid Regina tries to slot into this narrow world, and her disreputable father Jacob strings out its tensions to reel in some profit for himself.

    The interwoven group are confined to one room as their stories close in together and sicken – as we do too, compressed together in a play taken in a 90 minute swoop straight through. This is very much Lesley Manville’s show, her performance of Helene the emotional centre – and Richard Eyre’s sharp cuts to Ibsen’s text, which under Stephen Unwin’s direction was a full hour longer, emphasise her central role. Lesley Manville’s performance is brilliantly real, and feels somehow modern too – her alternating rebelling against and submission to convention and Pastor Mander’s demands is agonising. Against her emotional warmth, Jack Lowden’s Oswald seems thin and nineteenth-century priggish. His romantic artist’s past in Paris is cut to a ghost, fantastical in comparison to his affected, back home with mother present, and making it hard to empathise with his Utopian dreams of free love.

    The atmosphere is unremitting. But there are moments of levity and brilliant subtlety, too. Charlene McKenna as Regina’s deliberately, agonisingly deployed French phrases are gently comic, then gently tragic, as the depth of the hopes resting on them becomes clear. And Pastor Manders and her father Jacob dance the age-old jig of the sanctimonious fool and the wily trickster with deft steps, with Brian McCardie’s liquor-sweet protestations of innocence making him a plausible match for Adam Kotz’s half-holy, half-hypocrite gullibility.

    Ibsen’s frank treatment of venereal disease, adultery and sexual morality was hugely controversial at the time. Now, enough has changed – not least since the AIDS iceberg has thawed a little – to soften any analogies drawn with the present day. The nineteenth century fear of both moral and physical contagion is largely gone, meaning that the play’s central image is drained of force, and Helene’s departed husband of horror. But although our capacity to be shocked by a man coercing a woman into taking a glass of wine has waned, and free love is no longer the subject of bilious Daily Telegraph editorials, the suppression of Helene and Regina’s potential is all the more shocking.

    Helene has the suffragist pamphlets that Nora, imprisoned in A Doll’s House, never read, but Ghosts pin her so perfectly that she has no hope of ever acting on them. This production feels like her tragedy, as Richard Eyre condenses the machinery of Ibsen’s family drama into a tightly sprung trap, feverishly claustrophobic.

    photo | ©Hugo Glendinning

    #london #trafalgarstudios #ibsen #almeida

    Featured Posts
    Where Do Men Go to Grieve?

    Where Do Men Go to Grieve?

    Autumn Approaches

    Autumn Approaches

    The American Struggle

    The American Struggle

    Now We'll Hear From the Opposition

    Now We'll Hear From the Opposition

    A Family All at Sea

    A Family All at Sea

    Hollywood and the Optimism of Disappointment

    Hollywood and the Optimism of Disappointment

    We Are the World

    We Are the World

    As the Crow Flies

    As the Crow Flies

    Am I or Am I Not?

    Am I or Am I Not?

    The Truth, or Something Beautiful

    The Truth, or Something Beautiful

    {"items":["5fda4a4941e7f9001737e958","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e956","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e954","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95b","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e953","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95a","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e959","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e955","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e957","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95c"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Strips","groupSize":1,"showArrows":true,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"fill","cubeRatio":"100%/100%","isVertical":false,"gallerySize":30,"collageDensity":0.8,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":true,"imageMargin":0,"galleryMargin":0,"scatter":0,"chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":false,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":true,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":1,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":120,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCropRatios":"","columnWidths":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":3,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":0,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":false,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":4,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":true,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":3,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":"SHOW_ON_HOVER","galleryTextAlign":"center","scrollSnap":true,"itemClick":"nothing","fullscreen":true,"videoPlay":"hover","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","slideAnimation":"SCROLL","scrollDirection":1,"scrollDuration":400,"overlayAnimation":"FADE_IN","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":18,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":160,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"NEVER_SHOW","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imagePlacementAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":0,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":50,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"ATTACHED_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":220,"allowTitle":true,"allowContextMenu":true,"textsHorizontalPadding":-30,"showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryLayout":5,"targetItemSize":220,"selectedLayout":"5|bottom|1|fill|false|1|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":5,"isSlideshowFont":true,"externalInfoHeight":0,"externalInfoWidth":0},"container":{"width":220,"height":284,"galleryWidth":220,"galleryHeight":123,"scrollBase":0}}
    Recent Posts
    Where Do Men Go to Grieve?

    Where Do Men Go to Grieve?

    Autumn Approaches

    Autumn Approaches

    The American Struggle

    The American Struggle

    Now We'll Hear From the Opposition

    Now We'll Hear From the Opposition

    A Family All at Sea

    A Family All at Sea

    Hollywood and the Optimism of Disappointment

    Hollywood and the Optimism of Disappointment

    We Are the World

    We Are the World

    As the Crow Flies

    As the Crow Flies

    Am I or Am I Not?

    Am I or Am I Not?

    The Truth, or Something Beautiful

    The Truth, or Something Beautiful

    {"items":["5fda4a4941e7f9001737e958","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e956","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e954","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95b","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e953","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95a","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e959","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e955","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e957","5fda4a4941e7f9001737e95c"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Columns","groupSize":1,"showArrows":true,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"max","cubeRatio":1.7777777777777777,"isVertical":true,"gallerySize":30,"collageAmount":0,"collageDensity":0,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":false,"imageMargin":22,"galleryMargin":0,"scatter":0,"chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":true,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":false,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":0,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":50,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCropRatios":"","columnWidths":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":3,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":0,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":false,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":4,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":false,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":4,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":["SHOW_ON_THE_RIGHT","SHOW_BELOW"],"galleryTextAlign":"center","scrollSnap":false,"itemClick":"nothing","fullscreen":true,"videoPlay":"hover","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","slideAnimation":"SCROLL","scrollDirection":0,"scrollDuration":400,"overlayAnimation":"FADE_IN","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":23,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":200,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"NEVER_SHOW","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imagePlacementAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":60,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":75,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"ATTACHED_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":1000,"allowTitle":true,"allowContextMenu":true,"textsHorizontalPadding":-30,"itemBorderColor":{"themeName":"color_12","value":"rgba(230,230,230,0)"},"showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryLayout":2,"calculateTextBoxHeightMode":"MANUAL","targetItemSize":1000,"selectedLayout":"2|bottom|1|max|true|0|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":2,"isSlideshowFont":true,"externalInfoHeight":60,"externalInfoWidth":0.75},"container":{"width":220,"galleryWidth":242,"galleryHeight":0,"scrollBase":0,"height":null}}
    Archive
    No tags yet.
    Search By Tags
    • June 2019 (1)
    • May 2018 (3)
    • April 2018 (4)
    • March 2018 (3)
    • February 2018 (2)
    • January 2018 (3)
    • December 2017 (1)
    • November 2017 (3)
    • October 2017 (3)
    • September 2017 (4)
    • August 2017 (3)
    • July 2017 (3)
    • June 2017 (4)
    • May 2017 (8)
    • April 2017 (9)
    • March 2017 (13)
    • February 2017 (2)
    • November 2016 (9)
    • October 2016 (10)
    • September 2016 (17)
    • August 2016 (24)
    • July 2016 (9)
    • June 2016 (11)
    • May 2016 (4)
    • April 2016 (3)
    • March 2016 (1)
    • February 2016 (3)
    • January 2016 (2)
    • November 2015 (4)
    • October 2015 (1)
    • September 2015 (4)
    • August 2015 (5)
    • July 2015 (13)
    • June 2015 (8)
    • May 2015 (3)
    • April 2015 (2)
    • March 2015 (6)
    • February 2015 (2)
    • January 2015 (2)
    • December 2014 (4)
    • November 2014 (8)
    • October 2014 (11)
    • September 2014 (10)
    • August 2014 (7)
    • July 2014 (9)
    • June 2014 (7)
    • May 2014 (6)
    • April 2014 (9)
    • March 2014 (4)
    • February 2014 (2)
    • Facebook Round
    • YouTube Round
    • Vimeo - Black Circle
    • Twitter Round
    • Instagram - Black Circle

    © AUDITORIUM EU LTD.