More than likely you read Ibsen’s masterwork Hedda Gabler in your high school honors English class. It had that right balance of higher level thinking, cultural diversity, plot twist, and a soupcon of scandal. But reading it and seeing it on stage are two different things and the current production on stage at D’Youville Kavinoky Theatre is a visual and storytelling adventure.

Kate LoConti Alcocer is Hedda, the bored, bourgeois bride with plenty of secrets and snark. LoConti Alcocer is regal and aristocratic…and she’s also icy and brittle with surprising moments of vulnerability as she paces the stage in carefully measured movement. She’s absolutely elegant when she tosses off any number of jibes, mostly directed at her husband and his aunties. George Tesman, the husband, is played by Jordan Levin who nails Tesman’s milquetoast nature. Tesman is a would-be writer who’s functioning as editor who seemingly adores his wife, although she’s substantially less passionate about him. “I was looking to settle, so I settled on him,” she said. It’s his rival writer Eilert Lovborg (Ben Michael Moran) who has her heart. He has bold ideas to write about and enough swagger to convince Thea Elvsted (Arin Lee Dandes) to work with him on his magnum opus. Moran’s Lovborg is fierce and fiery and I love his broad movements and how he sweeps his arms to make a point. The scene stealer though is Judge Brack (Roderick Garr) who brings reason to chaotic actions around him. Garr’s deep and melodious voice carry the bits of bad news handily, and the more cheerful anecdotes dance from his mouth. He functions almost as a Greek Chorus with the voice of reason. He plays this part with an amused, almost cool reserve and it’s a joy to watch.

Directed by Fortunato Pezzimenti, the rest of the cast (Priscilla Young-Anker as aunt Juliana and Mary Moebius as Berte the maid) moves easily across Ron Schwartz’s glorious set, the perfect depiction of a 19th century European parlor.

The acting is taut and edgy and perfectly reflects this rendition of the script and its story content. Set against an exquisite stage and with point-perfect costuming on some extraordinary actors, Hedda Gabler is a grand foray into a complex family and family of friends whose stories weave through some emotional landmines. A happy ending? Not so much. Worth the wave of emotions? Absolutely.

Hedda Gabler is two dialogue-rich hours with a 15-minute intermission and runs to March 21. Find tickets and details at https://www.kavinokytheatre.com/.