Hedda Gabler: UCC Dramat Production Review
Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler was the first main stage production taken on by the Dramat Society this year. Directed by Katie Melia, the Granary Theatre saw its surroundings turned into a 1940s film noir style setting. Hedda Gabler, one of Ibsen’s most popular plays, depicts a complex woman’s struggle to deal with the suffocating existence which she has been forced to subject upon herself.The principal role of Hedda was portrayed by final year DTS student Leah McNamara, whose performance commanded the attention of the audience from start to finish. The role of Hedda is considered, by critics, to be an almost female Hamlet-type character. In taking on this demanding role, McNamara demonstrated just the right amount of coldness and spiky vulnerability required. In particular, the scene in which Hedda burns the manuscript had the potential to be almost farcical in the way in which it was staged, however due to McNamara’s control over the role, the power of the acting alone pushed through, proving it to be one of the most striking scenes within the entire play.
'In taking on this demanding role, McNamara demonstrated just the right amount of coldness and spiky vulnerability required.'
Hedda is idolised by her husband Tesman, played by fourth year Dentistry student Ali Khan. Out of the entire cast, Khan should be noted as being the one who seemed to truly embody the character of Tesman, bringing a winning formula of bashful docility to the role which, coupled with McNamara, proved a winning combination.Hedda and Tesman as a couple are contrasted against that of Thea and Lovborg, played respectively by recent DTS graduate Norma Howard and second year Chemistry student Kevin Anthony. Howard appeared to understand the purpose of Thea as a character perfectly by delivering a solid mix of timid femininity, along with a sturdy core to contrast against Hedda. Anthony (a first-time actor) put in a solid performance as Lovborg, bringing an alluring excessiveness to the part.The voice of law and order, running hand-in-hand with corruption, comes in the form of Judge Brack, portrayed by Liam Leonard-Solís. Though it was clear where Leonard-Solís was trying to take the role, something within the performance seemed to be missing at times. Notwithstanding, Leonard-Solís should be commended for conveying the nature of Brack’s character to audiences in a clear and consistent way.
'Something within the performance seemed to be missing at times.'
The other two female characters of the play come in the guise of Aunt Julie, Tesman’s elderly aunt, played by first year Arts student Leah Cooke, and the old House Maid Berta, played by third year Law student Clair Moroney. Cooke, though portraying Aunt Julie in a way audiences would clearly be able to identify with, did not seem to scratch the surface of the character, by lacking any substance or depth. Moroney’s performance did exactly what it says on the tin, portraying Berta as the old dithering maid without fault.Overall, as a production on an aesthetic level, the design and production team should be congratulated on creating such an effortlessly stylish look, with a flattering and elegant simplicity. In particular, the lighting is something that added exceptionally to the overall performance of the actors.In conclusion, Hedda Gabler is not in any way an easy production, whether it be from an acting or production point of view. The Dramat Society, the entire cast and crew should therefore be extremely proud of creating such a solid production. Images by: Emmet Curtin.