My Master Builder the play, as you might’ve guessed, is about a starchitect (star architect), and the women in his life.
It’s also about the intertwining of the relationships between the five characters (all with extreme personalities) in this play – so much so that it’s dizzying as well as unbelievable with an ending not worthy of its cast.
Here is the plot – let’s see if you can keep up. Elena Solness (Kate Fleetwood), on the eve of the 4th of July in the Hamptons, hosts a dinner party in honor of her husband Henry’s (Ewan McGregor) unveiling of his new work. But guess who Elena has invited to the party? Henry’s ex-fling, book author Matildhe (Elizabeth Debicki), who had an affair with Henry when she was 20 while Henry was a college professor teaching architecture. Matildhe has coincidentally written a book (titled ‘The Master’) all about said fling. And Elena coincidentally runs a large publishing conglomerate and has already read said unpublished book. Also at the party is Elena’s assistant Kaia (Mirren Mack), who is having an affair with the fifth guest – free wheeling father of two Ragnar (David Ajala) – whose wife conveniently lives in Sweden. There’s another piece of drama thrown in – Matildhe and Kaia were college friends and Kaia ratted about the previously mentioned affair. So throw all this toxic mix and energy into a 110 minute show and what spits out is a bit of a mess. Fleetwood overacts, McGregor underacts, while Debicki is barely visible in her performance. The one bright shining light is Ajala who brings energy and fun into the room. Don’t let the star wattage of McGregor lead you to buy tickets to this show – unless you are a very huge fan of his. But even then you’ll leave disappointed.