Kudos to Matt Smith: it’s bold of him to choose this unstarry, uneven production of Ibsen’s social critique for his latest return to the stage. The story of a doctor destroyed for revealing a public health crisis in the spa waters on which his town depends, it juxtaposes understated naturalism with coarse political sloganeering and audience participation. The casually charismatic Smith and a fine supporting cast can’t stop it falling apart in the second half.
The production marks the West End debut of Thomas Ostermeier from Berlin’s Schaubühne – a version of the show was seen at the Barbican in 2014 – and reminds us that Euro-guru directors aren’t always masters of subtlety.
