BRILLIANT ALBEE ON TOUR
Anette Hoff og Ingar Helge Gimle, foto L P Lorentzen
BRILLIANT ALBEE ON TOUR
Riksteatret (touring national theatre) now touring 48 places/cities in Norway from south to north with Edward Albees Hvem er redd for Virginia Wolf (Who’s afraid of Virginia Wolf ), ending up in Grimstad May 10, 2010
. Direction: Petter Næss
. Actors: Anette Hoff, Ingar Helge Gimle, Marian Saastad Ottesen and Nils Jørgen Kaalstad.
Brilliant acting in this stage version of Hvem er red for Virginia Wolf by multi-prized norwegian film- and theatre-director, Peter Næss. A must-see for all grown ups along the tour-route.
Peter Næss (49), Oscar-nominated for Elling, has carefully chosen actors he earlier has worked with in theatre and in several films for his version of the famed story of Martha and George; a middle aged married couple ripping each other apart in desperation of their dystopic love for each other. In the midst of their gladiatorial arena, Martha has brought a young couple, newly arrived at the university where George is a professor of history and Marthas father is head of (“God” of) the University. In the course of a long night, and heavy drinking, the skeletons finally fall out of the closet, but not before Martha and George has tormentet and pushed over the limit both each other and the young couple, Honey and Nick.
Ingar Helge Gimle, foto lL P Lorentzen.jpg
THE LIFE-LIE
BREAKING THROUGH Anette Hoff, well-known nationwide for her prominent role in the 12 year lasting tv-soap, Hotel Cesar, sparkles as the high-strung, vulnerable and evil-doing Martha. She starts out high strung and carries the role through a variation of convincing emotions through her verbal battle with George.
Ingar Helge Gimle, Anette Hoff, Marian Saastad Ottesen and Nils Jørgen Kaalstad, photo: Jo Michael
Who’s afraid of Virginia Wolf
THE MALE CHALLENGE But Albee has not forgotten the male challenge of a career and of success in society. A well know topic from other dramatics like Arthur Miller
. Albee has given George a traumatic childhood. Did he accidentally kill his parents ? Can a parent-killer become a success in academic life ? In a marriage ?
Ingar Helge Gimle plays George with an alert sense of self-defence, but not without warmth for his wife Martha. There is a vague hint of Willy Loman of Death of a salesman in Georges failed career and the rejection by his father in law, Gimle’s George never gives up like Loman though. A great performance by Ingar Helge Gimle.
THE AUDIENCE As a chosen audience for Marthas and Georges drama, the acting challenge of the young couple does not match that of the other two. But Næss has made a casting of quality choosing Marian Saastad Ottesen as Honey. She is wonderful in her ultra-feminine helpless confusion, here getting just a few scenes to show also determination and strength as Honey. But Ottesen has never let me down in any role I have seen her in
. Marian Saastad Ottesen is perfect as Honey.
I am a bit more unsure about the casting of Nick, her husband. Nils Jorgen Kaalstad has enjoyed success on film (Fatso) and is thus a know actor in Norway. His clumsiness and withheld reactions were disturbingly unclear in the beginning, but he grew into the role as the night wore on
.
BRILLIANT PLAY Edward Albees eminent play contains traumatic stories that will only hold if the performance is up to the brilliance of the text. Petter Næss’ version at RIKSTEATRET has all the necessary qualifications in the acting and in the film-effects of sound, music and light that his direction includes. And the scenography of Leiko Fuseya in brown and turquoise is as functional as an arena for the battles of the night as it is for touring the country.
Lisa Kristin Strindberg