Fiennes At The Peak Of His Powers



By Richard Edmonds
Birmingham Post
p. 15
May 2, 2003



We usually think of Ibsen in terms of Ghosts. But in Brand, he achieves a complex theatrical form compounded of realism, myth and psychological obsession that takes the play into extraordinary territory, some of it decidedly uncomfortable. It is an unredeemingly difficult piece, hard to understand and bleak in its outlook upon the cosy aspect of Christianity - at least, a cosy Christianity practised in inverted 19th century Scandinavian communities. But once again the central character, as in Ibsen's Love's Comedy, sees his vision dashed upon the rocks of social triviality and intolerance.

If the central character, Brand himself, were not played by Ralph Fiennes in a magnificent performance, then I doubt if Adrian Noble' s carefully judged and beautifully arranged final production as former RSC director would work as well as it does.

But Mr Fiennes shows vividly a young priest determined not to sacrifice one iota of his consuming vision of God's way upon earth.

Everything that could distance spirit from the Godhead must be expunged from consciousness. When his child dies, Brand forbids his wife to mourn her loss and demands in an act of spiritual humiliation that she gives the child's tiny clothes to a needybeggar woman who is bearing a frozen baby through the snow. An amazing scene and one which held you rooted to your seat.

Brand, in Mr Fiennes's hugely capable hands is a complex picture of a deeply angry individualist priest sickened to his soul by pettiness, triviality and the spiritual squalor he finds in the communities which surround him. In one sense Mr Fiennes evokesthe spirit of Kiekegaard whose philosophies stressed the painful relation of one individual to another.

In the end, having brought about his child's death and having lost his wife he stands alone among the mountains with a mad girl whose foolish gunshot brings down the avalanche which destroys them both. 'God is love' thunders among the echoes.

But there are fine performances throughout. Oliver Cotton is excellent as the cunning politically worldly mayor and Claire Price is very touching as Agnes, Brand's long-suffering wife. There is outstanding work from Alan David as the hypocritical priestand Alistair Petrie as Ejnar presents convincingly an individual as disturbed as Brand himself. But go along to cheer Mr Fiennes who is astonishing.

Two hours 45 minutes. Until May 24, then transferring to London until August 30.





      




 

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