Hedda Gabler

UH theater graduate students take on the story of one cold Scandinavian

Comments (0) By D.L. Groover Thursday, Sep 17 2009

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The Grandfather of modern theater, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen loved theatrical noise: the wintry blizzard in Brand (1866), that famous door slam in A Doll's House (1879), unruly mob screams in Enemy of the People (1882) and the jolting gunshot at the end of Hedda Gabler (1890). Years before Freud, Ibsen probed his characters' psyches - along with his own - and created convoluted, fascinating characters unlike anyone else's. The role of the calculating, mesmerizing Mrs. Tesman (tantalizingly, Ibsen uses Hedda's maiden name as the play's title) has kept its allure since the Munich premiere, attracting flocks of notable actresses. Freedom and independence are on Hedda's mind, and if she doesn't get them, stand back, and get your hands off her prized pistols. UH's graduate students in the Studio 208 program showcase what they've learned at 2 p.m. University of Houston, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, Entrance No. 16 off Cullen. For information, call 713-743-2929 or visit www.theatredance.uh.edu. Free.
Fri., Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 19, 2 & 7:30 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 20, 2:30 p.m., 2009