Hedda Gabler

Mary Louise Parker makes Christopher Shinn's new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler the best, most exciting version of the show I have ever seen. Her every word, every gesture is fascinating, magnetic. Her essence is sensual, her beauty radiates, especially as gowned by designer Ann Roth. It's a brilliant, many-layered performance as she restlessly prowls the stage like a feral tiger imprisoned in a small cage.

Parker has the proper qualities to turn all men's knees to Jello, and this is what has been missing from some Heddas I've seen. The stage sparkles with her life force.

The fine actor Michael Cerveris as her husband, Tessmanm, plays it a bit too oblivious, whiny and nerdy for me, as he breathily, cringingly delivers his lines -- it's a stretch that these two could ever have been a match. Paul Sparks as the neurotic poet-lover is just fine in looks and delivery - I believe him.

The weak link is the stiff, charmless Peter Stormare as Judge Brack. There should be some possibility in this character that Hedda might have had a romantic interest in him. Uh uh. It's just not there. He was really great, though, in "Fargo" putting someone into a woodchopper. The rest of the cast is excellent, including Helen Carey and Ana Reeder. Set by Hildegard Bechtler and lighting by Natasha Katz frame the play beautifully. Director Ian Rickson stages clearly, cleanly, and whoever thought of using the unmatchable Ms. Parker in the lead had a stroke of genius.