When Ibsen wrote Peer Gynt it was never intended to be performed, only read. A five hour read with a massive cast of characters, incredible settings and a large scene taking place in the dark, it proves very difficult to stage, yet Measureless Liars claim to have adapted it to a fifty-five minute play with a cast of four. And indeed they have, granted it is a very abridged version but it makes for a very enjoyable piece of theatre.

Peer Gynt is in trouble. After stealing the bride at a wedding he incurs the wrath of the bride’s father and must flee his village leaving his mother to run their sandwich making business and his true love Solveig to grieve for him. On his travels he meets some very strange characters and returns home, to find his mother is dying, once again he leaves home and meets someone who threatens to destroy him unless Peer can prove he is either completely bad or completely good.

If you are a fan of Peer Gynt, the type who would not like characters to be changed or parts of plot ignored, then this may not be the production for you. It is an adaptation, a tip of the hat to Ibsen’s text, a very basic version of the tale with some very interesting portrayals of character. The troll king, for example, whose daughter Peer Gynt impregnates is, in this production, an upper class snob, playing golf, wearing Pringle tops and worshipping the music of Neil Sedaka.

This is a very lively, fun and colourful production. The cast of four do a fantastic job of constantly changing characters and costumes. The set is simple, a cabinet which the cast dive under, climb above and dart in and out off. The soundtrack has the wonderful quality of adding to the action so well that it never stands out and the cast have been given great direction, interesting to watch even when not directly involved in the moment but never upstaging each other. A fast-paced piece with a large dose of humour. Very enjoyable.

Hill Street Theatre
Aug 17th-28th 17:35