ROSMERSHOLM at the City Center

The Pearl Theatre Company presents Henrik Ibsen's Rosmersholm at the City Center (Stage II) now through December 19th.  Adapted by Mike Poulton and directed by Elinor Renfield, Rosmersholm stars Margot White, Bradford Cover and features Austin Pendleton, star of stage and film.  Written in 1866, many regard Rosmersholm as Ibsen's masterpiece. I personally wouldn't go that far.

As sure as you count on a female lead killing herself, you can be sure that Ibsen will take on a social problem in his work.  In Rosmersholm, Ibsen takes on the conflict of developing new social ideals against the conservative underpinnings of a community. 

Sounds familiar, huh? (I still don't have health insurance.)

In a typical Ibsen play, humanity serves to highlight the social problem.  However, the social problem takes a total back seat to a melodramatic romance in Rosmersholm.

The set and lighting were appealing and the staging kept my interest.  However, the acting did not live up to its billing.  It was inconsistent and unfortunately didn't compel me to care about any of these characters. 

Tickets for Rosmersholm are currently on sales through City Tix and at nycitycenter.org.