Review: HEDDA GABLER at Modern Classics Theatre Company Of Long Island

What happens when the wealthy daughter of a respected general marries a man she can barely tolerate and finds herself trapped in an unsatisfying life that is beneath her every sensibility, and utterly boring?

What happens when a scholar, trying to make his mark in the academic world, marries a socialite under the delusion that she loves him?

What happens when their previous lovers are lovers themselves, and inspire one another to better their lives and accomplish great things?

What happens when hope is destroyed?

If you guessed jealousy, gaslighting, betrayal, rage, and manipulation, you’re on the right track!

A “bucket list” item for director John Emro, HEDDA GABLER is Henrik Ibsen’s complicated and tragic tale of a woman who finds little satisfaction in life other than through the manipulation of others. There is no limit to the extent to which she will go to have the “power to mold a human destiny.” It’s also the tale of a woman’s place in society and the struggle for women to have an identity of their own outside of marriage and family. It’s also a tale that reveals the disconnect between how people present themselves in proper society versus how they behave in private. “People don’t do such things”, as said by Judge Brack.

Elle Lucksted embodied all the ennui, disgust, arrogance, whimsy, and devilishness the intriguing Hedda Gabler demanded. Considered one of the most challenging female roles in literature, Lucksted felt natural and at ease.

Paul DeFilippo as George Tesman was the perfectly oblivious optimist. He was completely blind to the machinations of his wife, the less-than-moral intentions of his good friend Judge Brack (Joseph Cavagnet), and the persistent hints from his Aunt Julia (Candace Wilkerson) regarding Hedda’s “condition”.

Thea Elvsted was played with depth and care by Alexa Roosevelt. Careful not to portray Thea as one-dimensional, Roosevelt delivered a touching performance.

Renatto Cornejo was the handsome and charismatic Eilert Lovborg. Hedda’s former lover and the polar opposite of George’s hyper-focused scholarly nature, he awoke Hedda’s deviousness and love of mischief. When he fell back into his troubled past behaviors, losing his life’s work, a distraught Lovborg sought solace from Hedda. You’ll have to see the show to find out what happened instead.

Photo credit: Cade Meier

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