Natalie Dormer returns to the stage in Phillip Breen's adaptation of Tolstoy's tale, portraying the conflicted Anna. While her performance is commendable, her chemistry with Vronsky is lacking. Breen's production employs a blend of modern language within a historical context, featuring a clever and ambitious set design that evokes a sense of desolate opulence. Despite moments of high comedy, the emotional depth of the piece struggles to resonate, as directorial quirkiness sometimes overshadows the tragic essence of Tolstoy's narrative.
Marriage, I'd rather stick pins in my eyes, says longsuffering wife, Dolly (Naomi Sheldon), summing up the kernel of Tolstoy's story in vernacular.
Breen's adaptation is always original, without playing fast and loose with the story, incorporating modern language with a period setting.
The emotional life of the story seems rather too surface-bound, with comedy overshadowing the dramatic tragic depths intended.
The production glows with the ambition of reflecting the full scope of the novel, despite some clever but blithe directorial flourishes.
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