DUCHESS THEATRE

Ghosts 1882 debut was considered simply shocking rather than in any profound sense revolutionary. And although the mention of venereal disease is no longer scandalous, Ibsen's play still holds significance today. Although a little too solemn for my taste, too sober and too glum, the new production by Amon Miyamoto is somewhat enigmatic.

The pragmatic Helene Alving, played by Lesley Sharp is about to dedicate an orphanage built in memory of her dead husband Captain Alvin. It all seems respectable on the surface, her son Oswald, an artist, returns home for the celebrations and Pastor Mendes is on the scene helping with formalities. However one soon discovers that infidelity, hypocrisy, incest and disease lurk behind closed doors.

It is revealed that the smarmy priest played by Ian Glen is in fact an old flame of Mrs Alving and that was it upon his advice that she dutifully returned to her philandering husband's side. Ian Glen also directs the play and impresses in his performance. He takes refuge in the pious pomposities however his character weak at the very core, made evident in his exchanges with the other four characters. He is a man defined by his beliefs, and when these prove outdated the lack of substance beneath becomes all too clear.

In the lesser roles there is strong support from Malcolm Storry, Jessica Raine and Harry Treadaway, who brings an air of manic desperation to a young man ravaged by a disease he cannot understand.

Ghosts paints a haunting picture of a women restricted by duty, haunted by ghosts of times past and the miserable legacy handed down from father to son. I feel that the strength of the production was in Ibsen's compelling language rather than lavish production or exceptional performances.

There is no ray of hope in Ibsen's Ghosts, only gloom. The set consisting of a large Scandinavian style living room echoes this - its large windows framing the grey dreary skies. The heavy handed, oh-so-dramatic ending does not add anything to the production diminishing the subtle intensity of what comes before.