Review: THE MASTER BUILDER, Arcola Theatre
Photo credit: Alex Brenner
David Edgar’s adaptation of Ibsen’s The Master Builder was well received when first seen in 2010 at the Minerva in Chichester. Now revived at the Arcola in a taut, enthralling production, it manages to unite the figurative and symbolic aspects of this complex play. With a strong cast, and Mehmet Ergen directing, this is an authoritative take on this much-produced play.
Halvard Solness is a Master Builder rather than an architect as he never had any formal training. Despite this, he has done well professionally, working alongside first Knut Brovik and then his up-and-coming son, Ragnar. Also working in the office is Ragnar’s fiancée, Kaja. Two visitors arrive during the play: one a regular caller, Dr Herdal, and then a figure from the past, Hilde Wangel (who also appears in the same playwright’s The Lady from the Sea).
The figure of the doctor is skilfully used by the playwright to indicate to us the level of tension in the drawing office, and between Halvard and his wife Aline. The enigmatic young visitor met Aline before arriving at the house and arranged an invitation to visit. Her real interest, however, is in Halvard, who met her when she was 13 and made grand promises to her as well as kissing and embracing her. Halvard claims not to remember this but for Hilde it was, not surprisingly, a traumatic and enduring memory.
At first, Halvard is wary but he soon becomes more welcoming, though his wife is distrustful of Hilde’s motives. By the offstage climax of the play, it is clear that Hilde is triumphant and Halvard has lost everything. This all takes place on a simple but effective setting of the Solness home (Robert Innes Hopkins), with model houses on the rear wall, all incomplete, and a looming steeple overhead, the significance of which is gradually revealed.
The cast is strong, even those playing smaller parts, such as Robin Hooper as the despairing Knut, and Ryan Wichert, eager but frustrated, as the architect of the future. Jade Williams is a powerful but often silent presence, always watching what is going on in this disturbed environment. As Dr Herdal, Peter Guiness is by turn avuncular and perceptive, combining his understanding of the Solness couple as friends and patients.
The central trio of Solness, his wife and the young visitor are exemplary. As Aline Solness, Sally George is apparently in control but is covering up a tragic personal history. George reveals this in clever little touches and gradually crumbles before us before finding a way to continue. As Solness, Greg Hicks is a dapper and confident figure at first but is living with the growing awareness that his reputation is built on sand. Hicks, always an intelligent and thoughtful actor, creates a totally believable and fatally flawed character. As the young visitor, Louisa Binder is a luminous presence, grounded in reality as indicated by her walking boots, and yet yearning for the magical kingdom that Solness once promised her. It is fitting in this reading of the play that it is her face that is the last image we see.
Once again, the Arcola Theatre have created a production of a classic which is both of its time and for today. Not to be missed.
**** Four stars
Reviewed by: Chris Abbott
The Master Builder plays at London’s Arcola Theatre until 21 Nov, with further info here.