My Master Builder at Wyndham’s Theatre Review

Reviews

1 May

Ewan McGregor (Henry Solness) and Elizabeth Debicki (Mathilde). photo by Johan Persson.jpg

Written by Mia for Theatre & Tonic

Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review

It’s a fairly tired cliché: professor has an affair with his student whilst his poor wife suffers alone at home… So is there anything new to be gained from Lila Raicek’s My Master Builder -an homage to Ibsen’s The Master Builder?

Well, yes and no. It may not be anything original in terms of plot, but there is a certain intensity to it, especially the David Hare-esque awkward, intimate moments between two characters, where the audience feels as though it is intruding.

What gives this play a slight edge is the concept of manipulation employed by almost everyone in this interwoven story of love, loss, and jealousy. Ibsen’s influence is immediately clear, not only from the story and character profiles, but even from the set. Parts of the script are perhaps designed to shock, but even some of the coarser language loses its impact, and there are a lot of unanswered questions following the play’s abrupt ending.

Ewan McGregor plays Henry, an architect working on a monument to his son Max, who died tragically ten years ago; wrestling with guilt and grief, he had an (almost) affair with student Hilde (Elizabeth Debicki), but - apparently - never forgot her. In present day, Henry’s wife Elena (Kate Fleetwood) is trying to sleep with his protégée Ragnar (David Ajala), but he’s actually seeing her assistant Kaia (Mirren Mack), who has invited her friend (Mat)hilde to stay… What could possibly go wrong?

It’s fast paced and gripping, yet the playwright has chosen to make McGregor’s character poetic and flowery in his choice of words, which jar with the rest of the script and don’t match up to his somewhat dull character. Elena on the other hand is unashamedly brash and outspoken and must have been incredible to write.

In fact, the three female characters and actors elevate the show, each mesmerising to watch, which contrasts with the two male actors who feel sidelined and bland.

The tension between Debicki and Fleetwood is highly charged, despite the limited movement. Both deliver stunning performances, as they tear each other down with words. Yet Debicki’s scenes with McGregor feel diluted, and it’s never clear what her character really wants from him. Although Mack’s role is minor, her portrayal is excellent and Kaia’s character arc is impressive. Richard Kent’s set and Paule Constable’s lighting provide a sense of beauty and calm, creating a stark contrast with the plot, which is dangerous and chaotic. The revered ‘Hamptons light’ is stunning and is almost its own character, so closely linked to the themes of architecture and Henry’s designs.

My Master Builder is enjoyable to watch, although the characters are unevenly written, but never really gets going, and, while parts of it are impactful, on the whole the script is forgettable.