Ibsen a Kingpin

byquist · 04-10-2006, 06:06 PM

Why no chat yet on Ibsen? He was a big thinker! Wrote life and death issues, comedy, romance (say "Lady From the Sea" -- which has the Arnholm/Bolette scene, about as tender a scene as exists anywhere), environmentalist.

Speak of Ibsen.

malkatoj · 04-10-2006, 10:52 PM

I am such a huge fan of Ibsen. I read A Doll's House years ago, and just recently read Hedda Gabler and performed in A Wild Duck. It's amazing the different levels of interpretation that can go into his writing. The deeper meanings in A Wild Duck were especially potent to me, as I had to portray them as an actress. I played Hedvig, who seems at first like an 'insta-character' but upon further reading and really considering "What are my goals here? Why am I doing this?" her personality and my understanding of it changed completely.

byquist · 04-11-2006, 09:34 PM

Wild Duck is done about once every decade, so consider yourself lucky. I saw it done at Oregon Shakespeare. That's a difficult play, for the really serious Ibsenite.

I once played the jerk Torvald, and then 15 years later played the tough-guy Krogstad. Doll House is truly a universal play, very important -- women's lib.

There's a lot more humor in Ibsen than people realize, in even his most serious plays.

Vedrana · 04-12-2006, 04:05 AM

Yes, I agree. Ibsen was a great writer. I have only read "A Doll's House" so far, but I really liked it. It was a good read, and I can see why it caused such controversy when it was first written. I especially liked the last scene when Nora finally opens with her husband and leaves him. I honestly agreed with her, because if I were married to someone who treated me like a child, I'd want to leave too. I have started the "Lady From the Sea". I just hope it will be as good as "A Doll's House".

One interesting thing I learned was that Ibsen asked Grieg (great composer!) to write incidental music for his play, and the result was the Pier Gynt Suite, which I thought was really interesting.

Chava · 04-17-2006, 03:39 PM

The phrase "Nora går" in Norwegian, and translates to "Nora leaves" has become a widely used expression here in DK and Norway. Often in the feminist movements.

Janine · 11-04-2006, 03:07 AM

Have only read "A Doll's House" - wonderful! Impressed James Joyce and encouraged him to pursue writing, I believe.

04-10-2006, 06:06 PM	#1
byquist Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 635	Ibsen a Kingpin Why no chat yet on Ibsen? He was a big thinker! Wrote life and death issues, comedy, romance (say "Lady From the Sea" -- which has the Arnholm/Bolette scene, about as tender a scene as exists anywhere), environmentalist. Speak of Ibsen.

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04-10-2006, 10:52 PM	#2
malkatoj Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The 6th Circle of Hell Posts: 5	I am such a huge fan of Ibsen. I read A Doll's House years ago, and just recently read Hedda Gabler and performed in A Wild Duck. It's amazing the different levels of interpretation that can go into his writing. The deeper meanings in A Wild Duck were especially potent to me, as I had to portray them as an actress. I played Hedvig, who seems at first like an 'insta-character' but upon further reading and really considering "What are my goals here? Why am I doing this?" her personality and my understanding of it changed completely.

04-11-2006, 09:34 PM	#3
byquist Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 635	Wild Duck is done about once every decade, so consider yourself lucky. I saw it done at Oregon Shakespeare. That's a difficult play, for the really serious Ibsenite. I once played the jerk Torvald, and then 15 years later played the tough-guy Krogstad. Doll House is truly a universal play, very important -- women's lib. There's a lot more humor in Ibsen than people realize, in even his most serious plays.

04-12-2006, 04:05 AM	#4
Vedrana Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 84	Yes, I agree. Ibsen was a great writer. I have only read "A Doll's House" so far, but I really liked it. It was a good read, and I can see why it caused such controversy when it was first written. I especially liked the last scene when Nora finally opens with her husband and leaves him. I honestly agreed with her, because if I were married to someone who treated me like a child, I'd want to leave too. I have started the "Lady From the Sea". I just hope it will be as good as "A Doll's House". One interesting thing I learned was that Ibsen asked Grieg (great composer!) to write incidental music for his play, and the result was the Pier Gynt Suite, which I thought was really interesting.

04-17-2006, 03:39 PM	#5
Chava loquacious cat mrawr Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 3,020	The phrase "Nora går" in Norwegian, and translates to "Nora leaves" has become a widely used expression here in DK and Norway. Often in the feminist movements.

11-04-2006, 03:07 AM	#6
Janine ETERNAL SPRINGTIME Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern New Jersey, near Philadelphia Posts: 8,519 Blog Entries: 2	Have only read "A Doll's House" - wonderful! Impressed James Joyce and encouraged him to pursue writing, I believe.