Rosamund Pike in Hedda Gabler at Richmond Theatre

There are times when you want to be immersed in thought-provoking culture – and truck along to a theatre to see work by timeless masters such as Shakespeare, Moliere or Ibsen. It means transporting yourself back in time to imagine a rather different world where social etiquette was of paramount importance and scandal was something to be avoided at all costs rather than courted for the delectation of the tabloid media.

For those who are unfamiliar with the plot – Hedda is an aristocratic, hard to please woman with a penchant for pistols who has returned from a long honeymoon with her respectable, well meaning but crushingly dull academic husband (Tesman). She is installed in a house that she only pretended she liked but which has been financed at great cost by her husband’s maiden aunt (to whom she is contemptuous). The married former schoolfriend (Mrs Elvsted) of one of Hedda’s former loves (Loevborg) brings news that he is now reformed and about to “cause a stir” with his latest academic work. Out of boredom, Hedda toys with her husband, his aunt, her friend and a male family friend (Judge Brack - who desires her). Loevborg returns and is quickly back into his old alcoholic ways – loses his precious manuscript, cruelly rejects Mrs Elvsted and takes Hedda’s advice to make a dramatic exit from this world. Hedda’s dislike of her dull life – and the prospect of motherhood and being indebted to Judge – drives her to take her own life.

Whilst Pike is undoubtedly beautiful and wears some fabulous outfits (I particularly liked the bolero jacket) I am afraid that her performance as the formidable and frustrated Hedda just didn’t quite hit the spot for me. Whilst her wails of boredom might resonate with the parents of petulant teenage daughters separated from their mobile phones, her social bullying and manipulation of those less fortunate than herself only hinted at malice and madness. I thought Hedda was supposed to be a woman torn apart by the social injustice which condemned women to be powerless in the home and non-existent out of it while their husbands were free to behave however they liked even if it put their reputation, family and livelihood at risk.

Tesman (Robert Glenister) came across as suitably insensitive and rumbustious and Mrs Elvsted (Zoe Waites) appeared silly enough to fall for the charms of a lothario – but not quite brave enough to commit adultery and leave her husband. Loevborg (Colin Tierney) didn’t appear to convey the sort of strong allure that would have been needed to once capture Hedda’s heart nor the wretchedness of an alcoholic who has once again fallen off the wagon.

Sadly, the production comes across as a laboured farce rather than high drama. The nuances just weren’t there and I didn’t feel engaged in the sub-plots. I was underwhelmed. Perhaps it was the production rather than the actors. Or maybe I am simply not sophisticated nor cultured enough to appreciate such work. I’d love to hear from someone who disagrees with me…