As we ascend the hill toward the Belvoir St Theatre, it appears radiant and bright, shining its light and truth to the masses below. Truth in the form of light-hearted, and sometimes, not so light-hearted entertainment. We find our assigned seat, and settle in for the 1 hour and 45-minute-long production. Written and set in 1881, the Henrik Ibsen classic, Ghosts, once a contemporary piece of writing, it is now historical, yet surprisingly relevant and familiar at the same time.
Michael Hankin has designed a set which is thought provoking, set on a country estate in Norway. Most of the play is focused around the large garden-room, from which the whole house can be accessed. I quite enjoyed trying to figure out how the rain appeared to be pouring down the windows of the conservatory. The costumes by Julie Lynch were practical, sturdy and without fanfare.
From the outset, we are faced with topics which are not altogether new. Adultery, fornication, illegitimate children, children being sent to live with and be brought up by others, de-facto relationships and, lest we mention it, divorce.
Pamela Rabe’s performance of Mrs Helene Alving is commendable - married to a Navy Captain, who played the part of a ‘good Christian’ in society, yet in secret, was abusive, violent, an alcoholic and an adulterer. Yet, it was Helene who was the ‘treacherous wife’, as one year into their marriage, she left him. She chose not to stay and put up with the abuse and perform her ‘wifely duties’. Sometime later, she then did what many wouldn’t, she moved back. Helene chose duty over love.
We meet Helene 10 years after her husband has died, and she is more centred, and is once again questioning her duty. We see a somewhat familiar, yet hardened face looking out into the distance. Not to the audience, but out to the orphanage, which is almost complete and soon to receive children. Her son, Osvald Alving, played by Tom Conroy, who she sent away to live with strangers in Paris at the age of 7, has moved back home. She is busy with preparations for the orphanage and things are looking up. Unbeknownst to Helene, Osvald, has his own secrets, ghosts, which he has been struggling with for quite some time.
Robert Menzies is very convincing as Pastor Manders. He enters fresh off the boat, and soaked from the life-bringing rain. A country Pastor with fundamental beliefs, he reminds Mrs Alving to proceed with caution with her preferred form of literature. “What kind of society would require every one of us to form and express our particular opinion on everything?”…
As we meet each of the different characters, my thoughts are brought to a very real topic plaguing our society today. The fundamental belief of what constitutes a marriage… In the Christian context, we are taught that all are equal under the law. We are encouraged to seek justice for our fellow people and to help those in bondage to gain freedom.
As a society, do we not fight for equality? For freedom? Freedom from discrimination? Freedom from our pasts, and the freedom to choose what we think is right? What differs from Ibsen’s time to now, is that we are free to choose. One question I feel, that needs to be asked though is, in our freedom, will we be creating more ghosts?
When all the ash settles, the fanfare fades and everyone is getting on with their lives, will you be happy with your decision?
Ghosts is playing at Belvoir St. Theatre, Surry Hills until Sunday October 22nd. Production photo by Brett Boardman.
