The Master Builder (1988)

A successful architect (Leo McKern) in a small Norwegian town is visited by a young woman (Miranda Richardson) who he had met ten years previously as a teenage girl. They had had a momentary dalliance and he romantically promised her he would give her a kingdom and now, she is here to claim it. Based on the 1892 play by Henrik Ibsen and directed by Michael Darlow. This complex and multi layered work is challenging to the intellect and if done poorly, a challenge to get through. I've seen several productions (including the Jonathan Demme 2014 modernized film version) and this production is the best I've seen. This is due in no small part to the three superb central performances (the third is Jane Lapotaire as the wife) who seem to understand their characters only too well and delve deeply into them which provides an intense experience. If you've never seen THE MASTER BUILDER, this is the production to go with. The subdued underscore is by Francis Shaw. With David Markham, Sebastian Shaw and Natalie Ogle.