Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Women taking control in the Off-Broadway revivals of Bernard Shaw’s CANDIDA and Ibsen’s HEDDA GABLER

• By drediman
• November 10, 2022
• No Comments

This fall, two of Western drama’s most iconic titular female characters can once again be seen taking control of their respective constricted situations. Here are my thoughts on the current Off-Broadway revivals of George Bernard Shaw’s Candida and Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.

CANDIDA
Gingold Theatrical Group at Theatre Row
Through November 19

First up at Theatre Row is the Gingold Theatrical Group’s revival of Bernard Shaw’s Candida (RECOMMENDED), which has been cleverly reset from 1890s London to 1920s New York. Directed by artistic director David Staller, the play — like his 2021 production of Mrs. Warren’s Profession — has been staged at break-neck speed, condensing the work’s three acts into a fast-paced intermission-less evening. The result is a version of the play that emphasizes the piece’s inherent comedy and the robust banter of Shaw’s wordy, debate-driven dialogue. Although a part of me misses the high stakes of a more dramatic reading — which allows Candida to more cathartically come to terms with societal views of women and their place in the world — I was nonetheless charmed by the approach, especially as performed by the revival’s well-balanced cast. In terms of the acting, highlights include the beautifully controlled work of Avanthika Srinivasan (who was memorable earlier this season in NAATCO’s production of Madhuri Shekar’s Queen) in the title role and Amber Reauchean Williams’ very funny performance as the household’s frustrated assistant.

HEDDA GABLER
Bedlam at the Irondale Center
Through November 20

Then over at the Irondale Center located in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, I had the chance to catch up with Bedlam’s take on Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler (RECOMMENDED), which is playing in repertory with their revival of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale. Given the theater company’s history of extreme play and textual rigor, it’s somewhat surprising to see how relatively straightforward their revival of the Ibsen classic comes across. Directed with intelligence and juvenile glee by artistic director Eric Tucker, Bedlam’s production does an excellent job of giving good reason for the caustic title character’s frustration. In Tucker’s interpretation, you can’t really fault her for acting out and taking matters into her own hand — she’s surrounded by bonafide baffoons and overbearing abusers. Hedda is here played by Bedlam usual suspect Susannah Millonzi, who gives the anti-heroine a contemporary demeanor which further demystifies the character. The rest of the company — including Tucker himself — are the epitome of a true ensemble, collectively invested in elevating Ibsen’s text above all else.