Tanika Gupta's bold adaptation of Ibsen's classic, Hedda, has transposed the iconic character to a world of Hollywood glamour and social hierarchy in post-war London. The result is a thought-provoking exploration of racism and identity set against the backdrop of emerging India and the restrictive social norms of middle-class England.
In this riveting reimagining, actress Pearl Chanda shines as Hedda, a movie star struggling to conceal her dual Anglo-Indian heritage. This carefully crafted secret threatens to upend her constructed life and expose the deep-seated prejudices that permeate her world. Gupta's masterful handling of Ibsen's themes allows for a nuanced examination of the societal pressures that force individuals to conform, suppressing their true selves.
The supporting cast delivers strong performances, particularly Rina Fatania as Shona, Hedda's maid, whose voice is often overlooked by those around her. The dynamic between Hedda and Lenny, her former flame (played by Jake Mann), adds a poignant layer of tension to the narrative, highlighting the complex emotions at play when secrets are revealed.
However, the pacing and character development sometimes falter, with the rapid-fire dialogue and shallow interactions between characters making it difficult to fully invest in their internal struggles. The plot is driven largely by Hedda's internal monologue, which often feels like a narrative device rather than an organic expression of her emotions.
Despite these limitations, Gupta's bold vision for this adaptation shines through, particularly in the way she has transposed the original story into a contemporary setting. By doing so, she sheds light on the pervasive racism that was then but remains today. This powerful exploration serves as a timely reminder of the ongoing struggle to reconcile our identities and societal expectations.
Hedda, directed by Hettie Macdonald, runs at the Orange Tree theatre until November 22nd.
In this riveting reimagining, actress Pearl Chanda shines as Hedda, a movie star struggling to conceal her dual Anglo-Indian heritage. This carefully crafted secret threatens to upend her constructed life and expose the deep-seated prejudices that permeate her world. Gupta's masterful handling of Ibsen's themes allows for a nuanced examination of the societal pressures that force individuals to conform, suppressing their true selves.
The supporting cast delivers strong performances, particularly Rina Fatania as Shona, Hedda's maid, whose voice is often overlooked by those around her. The dynamic between Hedda and Lenny, her former flame (played by Jake Mann), adds a poignant layer of tension to the narrative, highlighting the complex emotions at play when secrets are revealed.
However, the pacing and character development sometimes falter, with the rapid-fire dialogue and shallow interactions between characters making it difficult to fully invest in their internal struggles. The plot is driven largely by Hedda's internal monologue, which often feels like a narrative device rather than an organic expression of her emotions.
Despite these limitations, Gupta's bold vision for this adaptation shines through, particularly in the way she has transposed the original story into a contemporary setting. By doing so, she sheds light on the pervasive racism that was then but remains today. This powerful exploration serves as a timely reminder of the ongoing struggle to reconcile our identities and societal expectations.
Hedda, directed by Hettie Macdonald, runs at the Orange Tree theatre until November 22nd.
I'm loving this adaptation of Hedda set in post-war London! Tanika Gupta's bold move to transpose Ibsen's classic to a world of Hollywood glamour and social hierarchy is total game-changer 
. It's so thought-provoking exploring racism and identity, especially with Hedda's dual Anglo-Indian heritage being the central theme 
. The way Pearl Chanda shines as Hedda is truly mesmerizing 
, but I wish they'd fleshed out some of the supporting characters a bit more 
. Still, it's an absolute must-watch if you're looking for something that'll make you think about societal pressures and identity 
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The casting is on point too, Pearl Chanda absolutely kills it as Hedda 
. But omg, I was kinda disappointed with the pacing at times... it felt like some characters were just going through the motions 
. Can't wait to see Hedda live though! Orange Tree theatre, got my ticket 
! Tanika Gupta's adaptation of Hedda is SO bold and thought-provoking - I loved how she transposed the classic to a world of Hollywood glamour and social hierarchy in post-war London 
. But, tbh, some parts felt a bit rushed...like, can't we just take a breath and really explore those internal monologues? 
Still, it's such an important exploration of racism and identity, especially with Hedda's dual heritage 
. The supporting cast was on point too, esp Rina Fatania as Shona - her voice deserved so much more screen time 
! Overall, 9/10 would watch again...and would love to see more plays like this! 
And I love how the supporting cast delivers solid performances, especially Rina Fatania as Shona. The pacing could be a bit tighter, but overall, I'm totally here for this adaptation 
. But overall, Pearl Chanda's performance as Hedda is just incredible - she brings so much depth to the character that it's hard not to get invested in her struggles 
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. And while I appreciate the bold vision Gupta brought to this adaptation, I'm not entirely convinced by the way she used Hedda's internal monologue at times... it felt like it was trying too hard to be 'innovative' or something 
. And Pearl Chanda as Hedda? 
. The supporting cast did great though! Rina Fatania's performance as Shona really stood out for me 
... And don't even get me started on the pacing issues - it feels like they're rushing us through all this drama without giving us time to breathe. But hey, I guess that's what makes it so thought-provoking, right? Or maybe they're just trying to distract us from something bigger...
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The way the film explores the tension between Hedda's inner world and her outer life is just masterful. It makes me think about my own relationships with family and friends, and how we all struggle to navigate those boundaries 
. Pearl Chanda as Hedda is incredible, she brings so much depth to the character and makes her struggles feel totally relatable 
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. The supporting cast is on point too, especially Rina Fatania as Shona 
.
. Still, it's not enough to detract from the bigger picture - Gupta's vision shines through and sheds light on some really important themes 
.
. And that dynamic between Hedda and Lenny is just so poignant 
. Anyway, if you haven't seen it yet, grab tickets ASAP