This new adaptation of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, adapted by Joanna Murray-Smith, is remarkably close to the original; Hedda remains the unsatisfied, embittered wife of Jorgan, a well-intentioned but boring academic, searching for meaning in her life by trying to gain power over others. However, Murray-Smith makes subtle changes, adding modern elements to the staging and witty cultural references to the plot, creating a well-balanced adaptation that is both believable to today’s audience and true to the 1890 play, if a little slow-moving in places.
Alison Bell, who portrays Hedda, is the definite standout of the cast. She conveys Hedda’s manipulative, desperate nature with subtlety and intelligence, giving the performance a unique sense of realism and resonance. Cameron Goodall is well-cast as Jorgan, providing both comic relief and dramatic tension to the production. Although his performance in the first few scenes occasionally borders on contrived and overdone, his performance for the rest of the production was immersive. Kate Cheel plays the bumbling and shy Thea with an admirable commitment to social awkwardness, and Terence Crawford is unlikeable and unsettling as Judge Brack, which is precisely what the role requires.
The design for this State Theatre Company production was cohesive and complemented the performance well. Although one might originally see the sparsely-decorated Tesman house set as bland (indeed, a woman in the audience commented that it was the ‘least expensive set [she] had ever seen’), the realistic native trees towering over the rest of the set provide an excellent point of interest, and, when paired with the work of sound artist DJ Trip, add to the ominous nature of the play.
The costumes are a rare weak spot in the production – while it is understandable that submissive characters such as Thea and Jorgen would be dressed fairly blandly, even Hedda, who is labelled by other characters as a ‘fashionista’ with a penchant for expensive purchases, fails to impress with her clothing choices. In a production with such impressive design elements, the costuming doesn’t hold its own.
Overall, Hedda Gabler is confronting and thought-provoking, with an ending that will leave the audience shocked, even if they have seen the original play. Modern without being unnatural and symbolic without being pretentious, it is a stimulating and enjoyable piece that will leave the audience with plenty to discuss and to ponder about the nature of power, love and courage.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
State Theatre Company of South Australia presents
Hedda Gabler
By Henrik Ibsen, adapted by Joanna Murray-Smith
Director: Geordie Brookman
Performed by Alison Bell, Kate Cheel, Terence Crawford, Cameron Goodall, Carmel Johnson, Nathan O’Keefe
Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide Festival Centre
26 April – 18 May
