[Alexandra]

This is every bit as good as I'd heard it was. It's a production from the Schaubuehne in Berlin, directed by Thomas Ostermeier, with English surtitles. It's updated to a contemporary setting and it works brilliantly, with a tremendous Hedda in Katharina Schuettler (who really made me feel Hedda's frustration - normally I can't get past what a bitch she is); and the ending, slightly altered from Ibsen's, is just a stroke of genius. It's only on until Saturday 1st - really worth catching.

[Backdrifter]

Thanks you got me all fired up now - seeing it tomorrow

I don't usually get along with Ibsen but something made me compulsively book for this, months ago.

[Backdrifter]

Forget the Medea techy - I'm now droolingly in love with Katharina Schuttler.

[Alexandra]

That's it, Backdrifter? Do you have any, er, more profound comments?

If you like - sorry, love - Schuettler you should go to Berlin and see here there - she's a regular in Schaubuehne productions. And she was in Blasted a year ago at the Barbican with Ulrich Muehe (who also starred in the film The Lives Of Others, and sadly died last year). She's very talented.

[Backdrifter]

When I left that comment I didn't have time to write anything else. I felt that particular comment needed to be made though.

I enjoyed it but it takes a really stunning production to make me overcome my aversion to Ibsen, and this battled against that. On the whole the setting made sense and the performances were very good - I got a little tired of the shenanigans with the set though. Without all the revolves it might have flowed better. I also wasn't sure about some of the use of music. But overall it must have worked on some levels because I walked away from an Ibsen thinking, that wasn't too bad. Yes, I see what you meant about the ending - very striking.

So anyway, Katharina Schuttler. Yes I agree she is very, very talented. I dithered over that Blasted at the time and didn't bother. How I rue that decision now.

[Alexandra]

I loved the music. I found the combination of the Beach Boys singing "God only knows what I'd do without you", whilst Hedda lay dead against the wall after her grand gesture, and Tesman and Mrs Wotsername happily ignored her and carried on with their research, just stunning.

[Alexandra]

Arse, please. We are not an American.

[Abby]

You want "profundity", Alexandra? Did you not find it when you put your head up your ass?

Yes, well said, heaven preserve us from any intelligent input. Though why anyone would search for profundity within a donkey's innards confuses me slightly.