Theatre review: Ghosts, Almeida Theatre, London

 

Friday 04 October 2013 17:23 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

What is it? In Richard Eyre’s production of Henrik Ibsen’s 1881 play, Lesley Manville stars as the widowed Mrs Alving, confronting the awful truth of her last husband’s philandering.

The Independent says: “Using his own sharp adaptation, Eyre’s spell-binding production builds to its shattering climax in an unbroken 90-minute arc. The play’s emotional daring and dark humour are conveyed with matchless immediacy, the dialogue sounding fresh and new-minted without ever lapsing into anachronism … the superb Manville is a subtle and searching Mrs Alving.”

They say: Arts Desk: “The sure-footedness of Eyre’s direction is made clear whenever the characters obfuscate or lie. Instead of giving the game away with over-indicated subtext, the actors hold audiences rapt.”

The Guardian: “The most radical feature of Eyre’s first-rate revival [is] speed. Shorn of intervals, Ibsen’s 1881 play races along …. The effect is to remind us how much Ibsen, the pioneer of naturalism, owed to Greek tragedy: he shows us the present consequences of past actions in a sustained arc of suffering.”

You say: @JeremyPiper: “astonishingly good. Superb adaptation & direction … Lesley Manville and Will Keen are phenomenal”.

Details: to 23 Nov; almeida.co.uk

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in