Katie Holmes - Hedda Gabler

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 2/8/26 at 7:23pm

Has anyone caught this yet at Old Globe in San Diego?   I can't quite tell if it's a modern adaption or not - curious and going to check it regardless.  

Also while there La Jolla Playhouse has Julia written by Claudia Sheer - any one catch that either?

[henrike]

Posted: 2/9/26 at 7:34pm

I saw it over the weekend. 

The set is essentially a bare stage, painted all in black with turntable along with a loooooong green sofa. There's also a big heating stove. But with not much else to decorate the otherwise minimalist stage, that scene wasn't too shocking since everybody saw it coming. There's a pianist upstage on a platform underscoring the entire play. 

Costumes are period. I'm not too familiar with the different versions of translations, but there were some random bursts of cursing that felt modern and slightly out of place. Most of the characters speak with that affected, period-piece voice, except for Eijlert who had 2026 mannerisms and cadence, which was a bit much imo.

Since it was only a preview performance, I won't go into too much detail. It's a fine production. I realized I just don't like the show.

Updated On: 2/9/26 at 07:34 PM

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 2/17/26 at 9:45am

Katie Holmes is going an excellent performance, as is the rest of this talented cast.  Was able to see the show this past weekend and wanted to process a bit more before sharing any thoughts.  I have never read or see Hedda Gabler so I did not know much about the show and found genuine surprise of the story and was truly entertained by this tight 90 min show.   Alex Hurt is also so excellent.  Having seen him in a few shows "Dada Woof Papa Hot' and "Patriots" he always brought such gravitas and excellence to his stage work,

This production however I feel suffers from the actual adaptation and direction.   The lack of modernization to the writing with a few interesting choices left me a little cold.  And knowing the writer also gave us the film version of Girl On A Train and Secretary provided a high bar.  Her choice instead was to take the translation and simply write it in a way that felt like a translation.  It kept the emotion for me at arms length. 

The set and direction were a bit of a disappointment  The very basic set - a giant long green couch - and a furnace - really lacked any sort of vision for me.  And the ways characters entered and exited seemed a bit clunky - an exit stage left into the wings (where you could see the walls from backstage) from downstage to upstage - all of the blocking felt odd to me. And again left me at arms length from the emotion.   I love a paired down piece a la Van Hove or Lloyd but this just felt too basic and at times lacking in intention. 

Again, was entertained, surprised and enraptured with Katie's performance but wanted something a bit, something a bit more.  If you are in San Diego by all means, I would encourage you to see it - but just wanted more

Updated On: 2/17/26 at 09:45 AM

[bruzson]

Posted: 2/17/26 at 12:43pm

We saw it last week before opening night.  The Globe commissioned a platform translation upon which the new text was built.  Holmes also had a movement coach, which I think led to excessive hand gestures but otherwise she was fine.  The rest of the cast was stellar.  My big problem with Hedda is that the motivation for her behavior and self-destruction was not made clear -- she was just on a rampage, which doesn't make for a great dramatic outing. But it's sorta worth seeing and is now a one act 95 minute piece.

We see The Recipe this Sunday and everyone we know who has seen it has been disappointed, alas, and it is nearly 3 hours long.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 2/17/26 at 1:38pm

bruzson said: "We saw it last week before opening night. The Globe commissioned a platform translation upon which the new text was built. Holmes also had a movement coach, which I think led to excessive hand gestures but otherwise she was fine. The rest of the cast was stellar. My big problem with Hedda is that the motivation for her behavior and self-destruction was not made clear -- she was just on a rampage, which doesn't make for a great dramatic outing. But it's sorta worth seeing and is now a one act 95 minute piece.

We see The Recipe this Sunday and everyone we know who has seen it has been disappointed, alas, and it is nearly 3 hours long."

OOOF, 3 hours long and the fact that folks have been disappointed does not seem like it might be for me.  San Diego Tribune gave it a very mixed review and noted the length as well.  Might not be for me.  

 

 

[Ball of Buttah]

Posted: 2/17/26 at 2:57pm

Good to hear some positive reviews for this. I happen to be in San Diego with family and will try to see this. Just have to drag the hubby along. 

[LiLoCupcake2024]

Posted: 2/17/26 at 4:44pm

Also saw this over the weekend and was a bit more taken by the show as a whole, and I echo the praise for Holmes. Wow! I’ve always found her an underrated performer but her work in this really feels like something quite extraordinary — total command of the material and of the stage. An excellent take on a character we’ve seen so many iterations of that truly feels like you’re meeting Hedda for the first time.

And — I want the couch. Sublime.

Bravo!

[LiLoCupcake2024]

Posted: 2/17/26 at 4:44pm

Also saw this over the weekend and was a bit more taken by the show as a whole, and I echo the praise for Holmes. Wow! I’ve always found her an underrated performer but her work in this really feels like something quite extraordinary — total command of the material and of the stage. An excellent take on a character we’ve seen so many iterations of that truly feels like you’re meeting Hedda for the first time.

And — I want the couch. Sublime.

Bravo!