Ah, how tempting it is to dismiss Henrik Ibsen's "Ghosts" as a play past its prime.
A woman who sticks with her husband in spite of his philandering and "debauched" life? Wouldn't happen today.
A self-righteous minister reminding that woman of her wifely and motherly duties? So old-fashioned.
People lying to get what they want? Whoa, really?
But last Friday, during a post-show discussion that followed The Rogue Theatre's solid production of "Ghosts," an audience member pointed out that such conventions are alive and well today. Think Hillary Rodham Clinton and the Monica Lewinsky affair. Or Eliot Spitzer's wife, Silda, who stood by him after his tryst with a call girl forced him to resign as New York's governor.
Then there is the self-righteousness of people such as the Rev. Fred Phelps, who travels the country with his followers to attend the funerals of gay men and display signs that say "God hates fags." Or the Rev. Pat Robertson, who once said, "If you get married, you have accepted the headship of a man, your husband."
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And those lies? The Internet has made them sinfully easy and as fast-growing - and dangerous - as wildfire.
Nah, the issues raised in Ibsen's "Ghosts" aren't so out of sync after all.
The story centers on Mrs. Alving, the widow of a man who had made her life hell with his cheating and lying. She had sent her son away to protect him from her husband, all the while protecting the community from the truth of her highly respected husband's wayward life.
The play is a fascinating study of the wages of such sins as deception and duplicity, and the lack of compassion and insight.
Plus, Ibsen is an incredible dramatist.
David Morden directed this Rogue production with an eye toward clarity and depth of emotion. Cynthia Meier gave heart and deep feeling to Mrs. Alving, a woman far ahead of her time - she reads, she thinks for herself, and she demands rights and respect (that character was scandalous when Ibsen wrote this play in 1881).
Joseph McGrath's Pastor Manders, who is so self-righteous that he almost makes Robertson look like a devil worshipper, is a man so glib with his conscience that it's hard not to squirm in his presence.
Really, none of the characters is likable, including the prodigal son, Oswald (Robert Anthony Peters), who has inherited some of his father's more unsavory characteristics; the slimy Mr. Engstrand (Brian Taraz); or the manipulative maid and Engstrand's daughter, Regina (Jill Baker). Still, Ibsen's play is such a complex and fascinating study of human nature that you want to spend time with all these unpleasant people.
"Ghosts" doesn't get staged often enough; it's a play designed to make one think, and that doesn't seem to be a favorite with many audiences. But it's also what Rogue specializes in. Our suggestion is not to dismiss it.
review
"Ghosts"
• By: Henrik Ibsen, translated by James McFarlane.
• Director: David Morden.
• When: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 28. No performance on Thanksgiving, Nov. 25.
• Where: The Rogue Theatre, 300 E. University Blvd.
• Tickets: $25. Thursday is pay-what-you-will night; half-price student-rush tickets can be bought 15 minutes before curtain on all performances, depending on availability.
• Information: 551-2053 or www.theroguetheatre. org
• Running time: About 2 hours, 15 minutes, with one intermission.
• Et cetera: Musical pre-show begins 15 minutes before curtain.
Shaw comedy lifts spirits after 'Ghosts'
Once The Rogue Theatre's production of "Ghosts" is over, don't rush off:
You'll need a good laugh, and Rogue After Curfew and The Now Theatre's production of George Bernard Shaw's one-act play "Overruled" will provide it.
Directed by Daniel Thomson, this fast-moving comedy is made all the better by the delicious acting of Nic Adams, Jennifer Rose Hijazi, Danielle Hecht and Lucas Gonzales.
Thomson has directed this to be a tad over-the-top, which frankly is perfect for this play about two very proper British couples who fall for each other's spouses.
Hecht's comedic charm is heightened by her physical comedy. Hijazi is exuberant and a kick as she embraces the concept of high-octane flirting with a man other than her husband. Gonzales is a stitch as the man who insists on the veddy British way of doing things. Adams will charm you and seriously amuse you with his bouts with his rather shallow conscience.
Performances of "Overruled" are at 10:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 7:30 p.m. Sundays at The Rogue Theatre. Tickets are $10 (cash) at the door.
Contact reporter Kathleen Allen at kallen@azstarnet.com or 573-4128. Kathleen Allen
