More Ibsen. Lesser known Ibsen. But still Ibsen.
Premise
A young woman, Eldsa, is married but still carries a torch for a former lover, who she believes is drowned. Ten years before the play starts she fell in love with a seaman who had a strange power over her. They exchanged rings and vows and he swore one day he would return to claim her as his wife.
Later for material security she married kindly ageing Doctor Wagnel and went to live with him and his two daughters on an estate high among the wooden slops. She became restles and unhappy thinking of her seaman lover. When he reappears and demands that she comeaway with him she is terrifed byt feels compelled to obey.
The husband believes another man was also his wife's former lover. A young consumptive man seems to be interested in the wife, but actually wants her daughter.
Cast
- Lynne Flanagan as Eldsa
- Edward Howell as Dr Wangel
- Carole Potter as Bolette
- Eva Freitag as Hilde
- Roland Redshaw as Dr Arnholm
- David Mitchell as Lyngstrand
- Wynn Roberts as the stranger
- Campbell Copelin as Ballested
- Nancy Cato
Original play
The play debuted in 1888. Read a complete copy here.
Other adaptations
The play had been performed on Australian radio in February 1959. It was done again for radio in January 1962.
Vanessa Redgrave was appearing in a London stage production in early 1961.
It was adapted on BBC radio in 1950, 1960 and 1961.
it was adapted on BBC TV in 1953, and 1958.
Production
This was shot in Melbourne under the direction of William Sterling.
It was the first TV production for Lynne Flanagan and 14 year old Eva Freitag.
The set was designed by Cas Van De Puffelern.
A British TV version of Ibsen's The Wild Duck was shown in November 1961 on the ABC in Melbourne.
Reception
The Australian Woman's Weekly TV critic said "The whole thing really had to be seen to be believed. There was so much talk of the sea, people drowning, so much trick photography that didn't come off, that I ended up feeling like a sea creature myself."
The Sydney Morning Herald thought it lacked unanimity in acting.
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| The Age 28 Sept 1961 p 16 |
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| AWW 31 Jan 1962 p 17 |
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| The Age TV Supplement 28 Sept 1961 p 1 |
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| SMH 17 Jan 1962 p 7 |
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| SMH 15 Jan 1962 p 9 |
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| The Age 4 Oct 1961 p 21 |
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| SMH 18 Jan 1962 p 11 |
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