Rosmersholm
Greenwich Theatre, London, 1973
Role: John Rosmer

Jeremy starred opposite Joan Plowright in this drama by Henrik Ibsen which, because of its difficulty, is something of a rarity on stage.

This production was directed by Robin Phillips, who later would become artistic director for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada -- where Jeremy performed in 1976.

The Guardian noted in its review of the play: "Jeremy Brett's Rosmer is a revelation; a bookish, ravaged individual with just enough latent sensuality to make you understand his magnetic attraction for Rebecca."

The story:

Rosmer is a respected member of society. He is a former vicar and a respected landowner with intentions to support a reform movement in government.

However, he is guilt-ridden over the death of his wife, Beate. She has drowned herself, and it is thought she had become mentally ill through sorrow at being childless and unable to ensure the continuance of the Rosmer line.

Meanwhile Rebecca West has come to Rosmersholm, Rosmer's estate. She leads Rosmer to believe she can help him realize his dream of creating a world of "happy, noble people."

Rosmer proposes to Rebecca -- out of love for her as well as to blot out his guilt over his wife's suicide. But then he discovers that Rebecca had tricked Beate into believing that she, Rebecca, was pregnant by Rosmer and that this is what caused Beate to commit suicide.

Rebecca admits that she drove Mrs. Rosmer to deeper depths of insanity, and even encouraged her suicide because she was in love with Rosmer and wanted to become mistress of Rosmersholm.

The drama comes to a head when neither Rosmer nor Rebecca can deal with their past crimes or trust one another. Rosmer asks Rebecca to prove her devotion to him by committing suicide the same way his wife did. Upon her agreement to do so, Rosmer wishes to join her, and they wind up jumping to their deaths in the same place Beate had killed herself.

Wikipedia page about the play

Characters and plot summary from Ibsen.net

Full text (PDF)