Susan Granger’s review of “Ghosts” (Off-Broadway – Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater)
Perhaps the first question that occurs after seeing Irish playwright Mark O’Rowe’s new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s “Ghosts” at Lincoln Center’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater is: Why?
Set on a small island off the dark ‘n’ dreary Norwegian coast, the drama occurs in the home of middle-aged Helena Alving (Lily Rabe), austere widow of the late Captain Alving who has been dead for 10 years. With the help of petty, puritanical Pastor Manders (Billy Crudup), Helena is building an orphanage in her late husband’s name.
In truth, Captain Alving was a lecherous drunk who sired at least one illegitimate child, Regina (Ella Beatty), who works as the family maid and is unaware of her disreputable parentage, having been raised by her adoptive father, Jacob Engstrand (Hamish Linklater), a crass, opportunistic carpenter.
Helena’s always protected her ‘painter’ son Oswald (Levon Hawke), who grew up in Paris. He is unaware that he has inherited his dissolute father’s penchant for debauchery and the fact that his inheritance money is what’s funding the orphanage. Now 25, he’s home, indulging in too much alcohol and tobacco, in addition to a clandestine interest in flirtatious, social-climbing Regina.
Shocking audiences back in 1882, Ibsen openly derided 19th century bourgeois morality, detailing infidelity, incest, venereal disease, euthanasia and religious hypocrisy – while obviously empathizing with the repression of women trapped by domesticity.
Collaborating with director Jack O’Brien, casting director Daniel Swee chose a muddled mis-cast of ‘nepo babies” – Lily Rabe’s parents are Jill Clayburgh & David Rabe, Ella Beatty’s parents are Annette Bening & Warren Beatty, and Levon Hawke’s parents are Uma Thurman & Ethan Hawke. An additional familial connection: Lily Rabe’s real-life husband is Hamish Linklater, son of vocal coach Kristin Linklater.
Yet Lily Rabe’s caustic, spirited performance and quirky theatrical genealogy are not enough to overcome the provocative play’s inability to measure up to “A Doll’s House” or “An Enemy of the People,” despite John Lee Beatty’ simple but effective set, subtly lit by Japhy Weidman.
Condensed to 1 hour and 50 minutes – with no intermission – “Ghosts” is the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center through April 26.