Meh… Master Builder

The next show on our docket was My Master Builder which is a modern adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen play The Master Builder. We had read the source material prior to coming to London and so I had a pretty great grasp on what I was about to see. The show follows Henrik, a renowned architect who’s marriage is falling apart. When one of his former students, whom he also had an affair with shows up to his house, everything starts to unravel. It is a play about power, and greed, and what lengths humans will go to stay in control. After reading the source material, I was really excited to see how they were going to adapt the show for a more modern audience. Needless to say, this was not my favorite play that we have seen.

            Ewan McGreggor, of Moulin Rouge and Star Wars fame starred in the piece as the Titular character. Needless to say, I was very disappointed my McGreggor’s performance. My main problem with this show is that the source material is a revenge play. Hilda (the student) comes back to visit her narcissistic abuser in order to take back the power from him and make sure that he is punished for what he did to her. This was one of the biggest things that I loved about the source material. That conflict was so nuanced and messy, which lended itself very well to Ibsen’s writing. But in this modern adaptation, that conflict was nonexistent. The text felt unnatural, with McGreggor’s performance not doing a very good job of hiding the fact that he was working with a lack luster script. On a more positive note, my favorite performance from the night came from Kate Fleetwood, who played Elena, Henrik’s wife who is trying to save their marriage. I thought Fleetwood’s performance was by far the most grounded, and I had the easiest time believing her in her interactions with the other characters.

            I also thought that one of the strongest parts of the show was the Production Design. The Set, Lighting, and Costume designs were all quite successful. I loved the contrast of the modern glass staircase that then was revealed to be Henrik’s masterpiece Cathedral, with the older, exposed brick that served as a floorboard for much of the play’s action. I thought that the lighting design was impeccable. I loved the way the light bounced off of the glass, I thought it was really great reflection of Henrik’s inner struggle. I thought that the costume design did a great job of conveying status and given circumstances, while making sure that the actors were separated enough visually from the set pieces.

            While I definitely did not love this production by any means and definitely would not see it again, I am a firm believer that all theatre is worth seeing, even the bad shows. So I am glad I saw it.

      -R