THE LADY FROM THE SEA; runs till 29 March
Birmingham
THE LADY FROM THE SEA: Henrik Ibsen, Adapted by Mike Poulton.
Birmingham Rep.
Runs: 7 – 29 March, 2h 45m, one interval.
Review: Rod Dungate, 11 March 2008
A rarely performed Ibsen – well worth seeing.
THE LADY FROM THE SEA isn’t easy going; if you put in the effort, though, the result is both beautiful and rewarding.
There is something of the poem about the play; this possibly stems from the central place given to the sea – it’s far reaching influence, the freedom it signifies for much of the play - and the great waves of passionate debate the characters engage in. Ibsen explores one of his most important, and on-going, themes - marriage and the place of a woman in it. The situations he creates are real, very real. But at the same time his play is heavily symbolic, more so than many of his others - but, then, less so than some!
Ellida is torn between her marriage (she is her husband’s second wife) and a previous love. In the marriage she feels trapped and yearns for escape into freedom on the sea with her first, sailor, love. He returns to claim her. But will she go or stay?
Lucy Bailey, who directs, gives full flow both to the passionate tensions within characters and between characters, and to the debate they engage in. Most of the time this works powerfully, occasionally it’s hard to avoid an uncomfortable feeling of melodrama.
Much of the success of this production must go to Claire Price’s powerful performance as Ellida. It’s a very physical performance; her whole body expressing her inner torment. She phrases her performance gorgeously – easefully employing all the dynamics at her disposal.
Contrasting marvellously with Price’s mercurial (sea-like would be more apt) character, is Louis Hilyer’s Dr Wangel. He convinces us that he’s torn apart by his wife’s torment but must hold his feelings in check.
Mike Britton’s set is lovely, suggesting the Wangel home is surrounded by water. The need to play one scene high above the acting space, though, is a mistake; it feels a bit like the front-of-curtain fill-ins that you get in pantomime, undervaluing the scene.
This is a strong company. Specially worth noting are Hannah Young and Amy McAllister as the two daughters, Boletta and Hilde, and Kim Durham as Ballested, who brings a welcome but subtle comedic touch.
Ballested: Kim Durham.
Boletta: Hannah Young.
Hans Lyngstrand: Tom Vaughan-Lawlor
Hilde: Amy McAllister.
Dr Wangel: Louis Hilyer.
Dr Arnholm: Simon Scardifield.
Ellida Wangel: Claire Price.
The Stranger: Oliver Boot.
Director: Lucy Bailey.
Designer: Mike Britton.
Lighting Designer: Oliver Fenwick.
Composer: Luke Stoneham.
Sound Designer: Dan Hoole.
Dialect Coach: Sally Hague.
2008-03-12 12:23:53