Treasure House Theatre
presents

HEDDA GABLER

Written by HENRIK IBSEN
Translated by ROLF FJELDE
Directed by DANIEL PAUL

Featuring
GABRIELLE ELU`, JAMIE H. JUNG, JUDY FOWLER, CATHERINE DeCIOCCIO,
STEPHEN CHRISTOPHER, KIRE TOSEVSKI, & BIBI LUCAS

Costume Design: MISHA PYLE
Set Design: MICHAEL IMLAY
Lighting Design: MICHAEL GRIFFITHS
Sound Design: CHRISTINA DALY
Publicity: RON LASKO
Prop Design & Set Construction: ANDREW HENNELLY

ArcLight Theatre
152 West 71st Street
New York, NY 10023
www.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/934815
June 12 through June 29, 2014

This classic play by Ibsen premiered in 1891 Germany. HEDDA GABLER is Hedda’s maiden name, Ibsen’s indication that this woman is to be regarded as an individual, not a “wife”. She is that breed of female who, born beautiful, has always had the men of the world at her feet. She never doubts that the world revolves around her. Haughty, unerringly polite when necessary, socially correct in every situation, it’s all about her status, her wishes, her plots and plans. Of which she has many.

Ibsen was an originator of “realism” in theater, at a time when plays presented only strict moral behavior and “family values”. Ibsen stripped away this façade, revealing the unhappiness, greed, and ambitions that lurked behind those Victorian lace curtains. The certainly lovely Hedda is one evil witchy-poo under that thin layer of propriety. She is the queen of the backhanded compliment, the sly innuendo, and the master plan. Having just returned from her honeymoon to the expensive house her groom bought especially for her, she already can’t stand the sight of him. And she hates the house, too. Academic George Tesman is happy in his work and thrilled to be married to Hedda. He notices nothing amiss.

Hedda’s only hope for a bit of happiness (if she is even capable of such a thing) is for her husband to rise up in his profession and become famous and respected. As usual, Fate has other ideas. A few old friends come and go from the mansion, filling in the blanks in Hedda’s past and revealing her true nature. It is Desperate Norwegian Housewives time, and Hedda sets her fatal plan in motion. But she who wants to control everything and everyone cannot control the tragic results of her plot.


The actors execute their roles well in this standard interpretation of the play. GABRIELLE ELU` is the woman you love to hate. If this were high school, all the boys would be trailing after her while all the girls would be plotting her murder. This production is noteworthy for its color-blind casting of an African-American as Hedda.

-Karen D’Onofrio-