Hedda+Gabler+JG


 * On the whole you have provided a clear picture of what you think of this production. Raising issues that you take to be confusing and speculating about motives behind the choices made is good. I suspect you might have exercised even greater criticism but were holding something back. What that true? If so, don't be afraid to express your opinion. In theatre, audience opinions should be used to help artists consider and reconsider what they do and work to be better the next time. **


 * A **

Hedda Gabler, written by a Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, is about a newly married wife uninterested with her marriage and current life. Hedda’s boredom is glaringly apparent as she maliciously plays with the fate of those around her. The play uses realism to portray the lives of several individuals all centered on the main character Hedda Gabler, daughter of General Gabler and wife of George Tesman.

I found the set for this play to be a little confusing. The stage was cluttered with suitcases, books and mirrors hanging from various places. There were also naked mannequins that the actors seemed to use as coat hangers. The only furniture used by the characters were a couple of fold out camping chairs. Surrounding the stage were opaque curtains strung up from the ceiling and chairs between each curtain. Instead of going off stage the actors would sit in these chairs and stare blankly at the scene unfolding in their absence. Throughout the entire play books, and suitcases would be moved in a restless, counterproductive fashion. The only thing I really enjoyed about the set were the mirrors. They provided so many different angles and perspectives. I loved when Hedda and the Judge Brack had their backs to the audience, but talked into the mirror so we could see their expressions. This effect gave both characters a duplicitous, shadowy vibe. The reason for the curtains on set remained a mystery to me. Although the characters alluded to being in an old house and removing the drapes from the furniture the characters used them in strange ways. Occasionally George Tesman would press against the curtains and talk to Hedda in a strange voice. The symbolism of this action was lost to me. Towards the end of the play the curtains seemed to symbolize death, housing Eilert and Hedda after they committed suicide. While I found the set of the play to be ambiguous, the acting in Hedda Gabler had strong, clear messages with great characterization.

The actors in this production made the plot and text of Hedda Gabler bearable. Each actor had strong vocal and physical characterization. Hedda was, by far, my favorite character on stage. Every expression, and dry remark revealed her character perfectly. Her indifference towards her husband, George, is made clear by her cold remarks and closed off body language. She often shrugs out of his embraces or turns away from his caresses. Her smiles never really reach her eyes, and her voice is deadpan. When talking to the judge she carelessly drops cards on the floor, and complains of her boredom. Her actions are lackadaisical and sometimes she just isn’t really there. Conversely, the judge is a domineering presence. His desire for Hedda is clear behind his coy lines and side glances. They use the mirrors the most out of all the characters, suggesting they have the most to hide. Thea’s characterization is clear as well. Her eyes are always downcast and she wrings her hands, suggesting that she is a nervous character. Thea also shows naivety by blindly trusting Hedda, and assuming Eilert loved and respected her. Eilert is a physical and emotional mess, especially after he loses the “child” he and Thea shared. However, behind all the emotional turmoil, Eilert is a genius writer. He is the epitome of the suffering artist. Bertha, the Tesman’s servants, has two different sides. During the day with George, she is a doting, hardworking maid. This can be seen in the beginning of the play when she is moving luggage and feeding George candy. Contrariwise, at night with Hedda, Bertha can be more hostile and cold. This can be seen in the bath scene where see mocks Hedda, and in their interactions when it is just the two of them. Finally George Tesman is an easily excitably, mousy professor. His antsy nature is apparent in the way he runs around stage, talking fast and rearranging books frantically. He absolutely adores Hedda, and never seems to notice her luke-warm feelings toward him. His inability to see Hedda’s true feelings gives him the same nature of gullibility as Thea. Juliana, Tesman’s aunt, is the only character that is never truly developed. The acting was fantastic, but the directing of the play helped convey strong foreshadowing messages of Hedda’s eventual demise.

The blocking of several characters allude to Hedda’s eventual death. First Hedda, while talking to the judge and complaining of boredom, lays down and puts a bouquet of flowers over her chest. She holds this position emphasizing the corpse-like image. In another scene between the judge and Hedda, the judge threatens Hedda with a gun to her head for playing with guns. This scene foreshadows Hedda committing suicide with a bullet to the head. Finally, while Thea and Hedda are waiting for Eilert to come back for the night, Bertha comes in. She pulls Hedda’s blanket over her head as if she is a corpse. The director did a fantastic job of emphasizing these moments in each scene. I also think the director did a great job in casting the character for the play. The actor that plays Judge is tall, with a booming voice which helps contribute to the domineering personality of the character. The actress that plays Hedda looks aristocratic and fair, emphasizing the arrogance of Hedda’s character. Her husband, is played by a small bookish looking man, emphasizing the studious nature of George Tesman. The actor that plays Eilert was tall and lanky, with tired eyes that conveyed the feelings of a suffering artist.

The costumes of the play were modern, and didn’t really contribute to the overall production. The lighting kept the stage shadowy, and secretive. Towards the end of the show the lights brightened on the curtains to emphasize the dead bodies of Hedda and Eilert. However, some of the characters were wearing some odd accessories. George’s aunt had a noise ring and half her head was shaved and Eilert had brightly colored hair. These factors almost detracted from the characterization for me. I almost couldn’t believe that the actress was a sweet old aunt with her young hairstyle and bullnose ring. Eilert’s purple hair made it hard to believe that he was a professional writer and competing with Tesman for professorship.

Overall I can’t say that I like this play quite as much as Clybourne Park. The entire plot dragged on for me, and I thought the set of the play was a little abstract for me. I wouldn’t really recommend it to someone unless they were really into abstract, artsy things.