I haven’t been emotionally slayed at the theater in quite a while. And I can shamefully state that Ghosts is a Henrik Ibsen play I was not completely familiar with. In terms of the Norwegian playwright’s oeuvre, I revere A Doll’s House, revived quite frequently–most recently with Jessica Chastain in Jamie Lloyd’s marvelous production with a kick-ass ending. I was reintroduced to An Enemy of the People last season via the terrific Sam Gold production, starring Jeremy Strong.
And, growing up, I was obsessed with Hedda Gabler, because of Glenda Jackson’s brilliant Oscar-nominated turn in the now-impossible-to-find 1975 film Hedda.
But the most I knew about Ghosts was that it centered on a mother and son. Written in 1881, the play takes place on an isolated Norwegian island in the well-to-do home of widow Helena Alving (Lily Rabe), whose husband died 10 years ago. Mrs. Alving is visited by Pastor Manders (Billy Crudup) to sign documents as she is about to fund an orphanage in her late husband’s name. She’s also summoned her son, Oswald (Levon Hawke) home. He’s lived in Paris for most of his life.
Mrs. Alving sent Oswald away when he was seven to get him away from his father who was an abusive, womanizing drunk who fathered an illegitimate child, Regina (Ella Beatty).
Regina currently works as the family maid and has no idea about her parentage, assuming her dad is local handyman, Jacob Engstrand (Hamish Linklater), who she despises.
Mrs. Alving has made it her duty to profess to the world that her life has been one of great contentment. But she’s done with that pretense now.
Oswald has been living the good life as an artist and free-thinker. But he suffers from a horrible ailment — SPOILER — Mark O’Rowe’s translation has Oswald stating he is “worm-eaten,” but never mentions syphilis outright, which I feel is a mistake as not all theatergoers will understand the severity of his illness and make the connection that he inherited it from his father. (O’Rowe’s version feels a bit careful and safe—my only real issue with this production.)
The suffering Oswald is also crushing hard on Regina, which introduces incest into the story.
The dynamics between Mrs. Alving and Pastor Manders is fascinating to watch. They have a history, and one can sense some chemistry still there between the two. Crudup isn’t afraid to show the pastor’s rigid, sanctimonious, judgmental side. And Rabe isn’t afraid to tear him to shreds with truths he’s never bothered to consider. They absolutely transfix.
This is one powerful Lincoln Center Theater production, masterfully directed by three-time-Tony-winner Jack O’Brien, with standout work from the (I’m assuming deliberately chosen) nepo-thesps in the cast, especially Rabe, Crudup and Hawke. If the play were to move to Broadway with the current cast, and it deserves to, look for Tony nominations for all three. Seriously, this is some of the best acting of the 2024-2025 season to date.
For the record, Rabe, the daughter of genius playwright David Rabe and the gifted Oscar-nominated actress Jill Clayburgh is married to Linklater, who is the son of actress Kristin Linklater. Hawke is the offspring of Oscar nominees Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman and Beatty’s parents are Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Crudup seems to be the only actor without theatrical blood coursing through his veins, but he is the descendent of a North Carolina Congressman.
I can’t imagine that the notion of familial inheritance wasn’t a factor in casting, although in the case of Ghosts, what the characters inherit aren’t artistic gifts as much as horrific disease, wantonness and wickedness.
Many of the characters in Ghosts are fighting patriarchal poisons, both real and metaphorical—living and dead, which makes this haunting work timely all over again.
The final moments of the production, that involve Rabe and Hawke, are emotionally devastating.
The play was denounced as indecent when it was published in 1881 for much of its subject matter and because it argued for free love and appeared to be a denunciation of religion. It went on to receive numerous stagings throughout the world and bowed on Broadway in 1894. A notable revival in 1982 starred Liv Ullmann and Kevin Spacey as mother and son. A BBC TV adaptation in 1987 featured Judi Dench and Kenneth Branagh. Most recently, Richard Eyre’s 2014 West End revival starred Lesley Manville and Jack Lowden.
Interesting to note that Ibsen wasn’t a fan of the translation of the title, by William Archer. He preferred the Norwegian (and Danish) Gengangere, which means the revenants or the ones who return.
Ghosts runs through April 26, 2025, at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, NYC.
For Tickets: https://www.lct.org/shows/ghosts/
