Ivo Van Hove brings his adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s film to the States

“There should be five-year contracts. Or an agreement that remains valid for one year that you can also terminate,” opines Johan to his wife, Marianne. He’s talking about marriage. “You and I are the exception to the rule,” he hastens to add, preempting an inevitable fight. Ingmar Bergman’s original 1973 television miniseries, Scenes From a Marriage, astutely captured the moments of truth and deception that decorate a wedded life. Fans of that film will find a faithful adaptation in Emily Mann’s English translation, which is now making its U.S. debut at New York Theatre Workshop. But under the guidance of visionary Dutch director Ivo Van Hove, the piece reaches a distinctly ingenious fever pitch, illuminating the themes of the film in fresh and exciting ways.