Review: 'Pillars of Society' at Theatre Erindale

Henrik Ibsen's 1877 play, Pillars of Society, offers potent drama yet is considered by many to be problematic.  

The engrossing production on view at the Erindale studio theatre reveals a play fraught with tension, despite some heavy-handedness in the writing. Credit director Heinar Piller (assisted by fourth year student Richard Chan) for keeping the pacing steady and focused.  

The chief complaints against the play have always been the clumsy handling of the exposition in the first scene, and the protracted ending. In this adaptation the second problem has been neatly addressed with some judicious cutting and rewriting. The first scene does dawdle a while, but thanks to a strong opening with an intense performance by Richard Chan, it coasts along without becoming tedious. 

Chan is not the only one giving a strong performance here. Mark Koelsch offers a powerful portrait of ship-building magnate Karsten Bernick facing ruination when his duplicitous past catches up with him.   

He spars mightily with Tamara Chandon as Lona Hessel, the women he once loved but gave up, marrying instead for money.  Hers is a fascinating performance that balances warmth and dignity with steely determination. 

Best of all of Daniel Bowers offers a riveting performance as Johan Tonnesen, Bernick's former friend who now threatens to reveal the secrets of his past. The scenes between the two are loaded with fireworks. 

The large cast provides solid support, delivering Ibsen's text with near flawless precision and confidence. There is notable work from Vivian Cheung as the irrepressible son, Olaf and Bryn Dewar playing Bernick's troubled clerk, Krap. 

Patrick Young's set effectively creates the illusion of a well-to-do household in a Norwegian seaport town, and the mood is greatly enhanced by Jim Smagata's subtle yet striking lighting design. There is also effective use of some of the music Edvard Grieg wrote for a different Ibsen play, Peer Gynt. 

Pillars of Society may not be Ibsen's crowning achievement, but it presents an intriguing portrait of a businessman, whose dishonesty leads to desperation, driving a powerful narrative.

Theatre Erindale's production of Pillars of Society continues at the Erindale Studio Theatre February 12 to 16. Performances are Tuesday thru Thursday at 7:30 pm, Friday at 8 PM, and Saturday at 2 PM and 8 PM. For tickets visit www.utm.utoronto.ca or call the box office at (905) 569-4369. 

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