Come see Ibsen as you’ve, quite literally NEVER, seen it before in the brand new play from the febrile brain and pen of Charles Busch. This is high drag, melodrama, literature lesson and legacy protection wrapped up in one memorable package. If you are taking friends with you who are less familiar with the estimable Mr. Busch, you may want to counsel patience. Very much like Ibsen, arguably the progenitor of modern drama, the Devil is in the exposition and it is all key.
The wit is keen and razor sharp, you may be laughing while others catch up and vice versa. Mr. Busch plays Suzannah Thoresen Ibsen, the great man’s widow. Believing herself to be part of his inspiration for his strong female character Nora, she is jealously guarding his reputation. When one of his “princess” protégés appears in the form of Hanna Solberg (Jennifer Van Dyck), the sparks and the fur really begin to fly. Under the stairs, there are no secrets, as evidenced by Gerda (Jen Cody) who has an indisposition of epic proportions with some fascinating side effects. The virile young seaman Wolf Dahlquist (Thomas Gibson) is Ibsen’s illegitimate son who falls in love with the widow, and who wouldn’t?! While in her thrall, he complicates matters further. Suzannah’s lifelong competition with her stepmother Magdalene Kragh Thoresen is magnified as Suzannah seeks to firm up Ibsen’s legacy and thus her own while Christopher Borg is both the venial George Elstad, Ibsen’s literary agent as well as the mystically clairvoyant tin flute Rat Wife whose powers come from beyond this realm. Hold on to your hats, folks, this is a big one!
Hanna and Suzannah’s conflict is epic – listen closely. At times Suzannah’s words are almost internal. You will have no trouble following Hanna and her beautifully colorful storytelling of her life, her adventures and her complete belief in all of her skills. Exciting Suzannah’s ire and envy both, Hanna has success both in her identity but also in her nom de plume. Surrounded as she is by writers, yet Suzannah feels her light is under a bushel. And perhaps it is.
Physical comedy abounds – most notably in Jen Cody’s expert performance as Gerda where her afflication becomes and addiction – as in what will she do next? And the resolution? Wow! Thomas Gibson as the would-be paramour for Suzannah is hilarious. Mr. Borg is brilliantly adept in both personas while Ms. Van Dyck’s prowess at creating such a character will remain with me as a how-to in vocal variety and dynamic skill, as she strides the stage as a colossus. Thank you Mr. Busch as the author with Carl Andress’ vision as the director for such a gem of skill, with and downright good fun.
Will Suzannah prevail? Where does the Rat Wife come in? Will Wolf avoid jail? What exactly is the root cause of Gerda’s malady?
When the lady in question is Charles Busch, there is but one answer – this is a perfect gift for your Valentine! This show’s run is over February 4. Your tickets are waiting. Visit https://www.georgestreetplayhouse.org/events/detail/ibsens-ghost.