(OUTview NW) Theater RE-view: Artswest's "GHOSTS" is Classic Ibsen Plus a Whole Lot of AMAZING!

No 'GHOSTS' but a whole-lotta Drama! (Artswest)

by MK Scott

When I think of Ibsen, I recall doing a scene from A Doll's House in College and being told by the instructor that I was no longer the shy kid that she met 2 years earlier I was an actor and I never forgot that.

So when I saw that our friends at Artswest was doing an Ibsen ONE Act play called Ghosts, I knew I would enjoy it and I certainly did.

It turns out that Henrik Ibsen originally called it Gengangere, back in 1881 and according to Wikipedia, totally disliked  English translator William Archer's use of the word "Ghosts" as the play's title, as the Norwegian Gengangere would be more accurately translated as "The Revenants", which literally means "The Ones who Return".

The subjects were quite controversial during its time which includes religion, venereal disease, incest and euthanasia, etc.

In this production (a brilliant new adaptation by Richard Eyre), directed by the always FAB, Matthew Wright, he has assembled a great cast and Set Design by Shawn Ketchum Johnson (2016 Gregory Nominee for 'Daisy') who totally re-assembled the configuration in the round, where the audience is in the center of the action.

(Artswest)

Headed by the incredible, Suzanne Bouchard (who was great in last year's Children's Hour at Intiman) plays the recently widowed, Helene, who is devoted to her only son Oswald (The amazing, John Coons), but will not pass her husband's money to their son, but builds an orphanage with the help from her former love, Pastor Manders (The FAB, Noah Racey).


During the action of the play, she discovers that her son Oswald (whom she had sent away to avoid his being corrupted by his father) is suffering from syphilis that he inherited from his father. She also discovers that Oswald has fallen in love with Regina (Sophia Franzella). the maid, which is a serious problem because Regina is revealed to be an illegitimate daughter of  her late husband, and therefore Oswald is falling in love with his half-sister!

When the sibling relationship is exposed, Regina leaves (in horror), and Oswald is in a state of despair and anguish. He asks his mother to help him die by an overdose of morphine in order to end his suffering from his disease, which could put him into a helpless vegetative state. She agrees, but only if it becomes necessary.

It is unclear of what her decision was and with serious drama, you get incredible performances and with "Ghosts", you do, just what Ibsen intended.

"Ghosts" continues at Artswest Playhouse through October 16th . For Tix and info, click HERE.