Riot to Follow's take on Hedda Gabler is an ambitious effort that eases its way into a frothy cloud of Mr. Bubble. The title character has often been called "the female Hamlet," but that's superficial; granted, the melancholy Dane has his perfect "self-slaughter" soliloquy, but his primary goal is vengeance against Claudius. Hedda Tesman (née Gabler), on the other hand, is a more ruthless character, at least as performed by Becca Mitchell. Hedda's been seen as anything from a victim of society to an embryonic feminist, but while Mitchell finds dozens of notes in her performance, they're all in the key of spiteful bitch. She overuses an exasperated groan ("Urgh!"), and I think I even heard a "bwahaha" - but don't get me wrong, it's a scenery chomp-and-stomp worthy of any nighttime soap villainess.

Read my full review here.

[Riot to Follow Productions, Hedda Gabler, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 22 - 23, free, The Evergreen State College, SEM II, C4107, Olympia, 360.867.6098]