The Wild Duck
Play Description
In celebrated playwright Richard Nelson’s bold adaptation of Ibsen’s classic, profound tragedy and surprising comedy combine to tell the story of the Ekdal family. Their peaceful lives are turned upside down when an idealistic family friend arrives. When the secrets unravel, powerful questions are revealed.
Production Info
Cast: 11 total (3 female, 8 male)Full Length Drama (about 100 minutes)
Multiple Sets
Period Costumes
- Reviews
- About the Author(s)
- About the Book
- Special Notes
Press Quotes
From Richard Nelson’s Introduction:
“THE WILD DUCK is a play about family life twisted, bent, and knotted into perverse shapes. Everyone seems to have a lifetime’s history with everyone else. Take just one character, Gregers Werle. There’s his father with whom he has been estranged for many years, certainly since the death of his mother. There is Gina who as a maid helped look after the Werle house while Gregers’ mother was dying; his mother accused Gina of have having an affair with Gregers’ father. This we learn was untrue at the time, but prescient. Gina is now married to Hialmar Ekdal, Gregers’ old friend from college. They have a daughter, Hedvig, who is most likely not Hialmar’s but Gregers’ father’s and so is the half sister of Gregers. Hilmar’s father was in business with Gregers’ father. There was a business scandal and Hialmar’s father went to prison, Gregers’ father didn’t. Gregers’ father continues to dole out bits of money to both his old partner and his old mistress. There’s Relling a drunken doctor who had fought with Gregers years before while they were both at the distant saw mill. And there’s Mrs Sorby, who like Gina, used to be Gregers’ father’s housekeeper, but now is his mistress; she once was in love with Relling and may still be. And it goes on and on. This play is structured around learning these relationships and the various secrets attached to them, and thematically propelled by the question: is it better to know or not to know? ‘Truth’ is stood on its head, as we find ourselves rooting for lies and delusions. This is a very disorienting play. And, I believe, a very great one.”
Special Notes
If original stage producers credits appear in bold below, all licensees are required to include them in the following form on the title page in all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play and in all advertising in which the full cast appears in size of type not less than ten percent (10%) of the size of the title of the Play:
This translation of THE WILD DUCK was commissioned by Court Theatre, Chicago, Illinois,
Charles Newell, Artistic Director, Dawn Helsing, Executive Director,
and received its first public performance on January 15, 2009
In addition, the following must appear within all programs distributed in connection with performances of the Play:
by special arrangement with Broadway Play Publishing Inc, NYC
www.broadwayplaypub.com