The Wild Duck
Must-see at Shakespeare Theatre Company.
I always think a play directed by the brilliant Simon Godwin, Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Theatre Company is going to be worth seeing. I was proven right again last night with The Wild Duck by Ibsen.
The play manages to explore the ideas of honesty and illusion in the story of a family torn apart by secrets and the intrusion of an idealistic outsider. It focuses on the Ekdal family, whose fragile peace is shattered by Gregers Werle, an idealist who insists on exposing hidden truths, leading to tragic consequences. The play manages to blend deception, betrayal, and the disillusionment of modern life, with moments of comedy and satire. Some have even considered it “the first in the genre of tragicomedy. To look into the characters true selves Ibsen uses motifs such as blindness, photography, and the wounded wild duck.”
Despite the fact it is not an uplifting night in the theater, which many of us could use these days, it is actually quite depressing, it is more than worthwhile seeing. I would recommend everyone go see this play. It definitely makes you think, and that is always important. As Simon Godwin said from the stage when he welcomed the audience to opening night, “you may not have heard of The Wild Duck, or seen it before, and you may never see it again, but hopefully you will remember this night in the theater,” and he was right. I am sure so many others like myself thought of similarities in their own lives in how we interact with our friends. What do we feel comfortable telling them about their marriages, and their families, things that we think they may not know or see on their own. Then think how telling them could impact negatively on their lives. What do we owe our friends in honesty, vs. love for them. Sometimes love makes honesty not the best policy.
One can see the brilliance in Godwin’s directing in so many ways including how he brings his characters on and off the stage. He is working with a cast that is uniformly talented. Hedvig, Hjalmar Ekdal's daughter, aged fourteen, played by Maaike Laanstra-Corn is a standout. As is David Patick Kelly, as the grandfather, old Ekdal. He is incredible and you enjoy every time he is on the stage, even though he has fewer lines. Then there is Nick Westrate as Hjalmer Ekdal, an incredible actor. Again, the whole cast is great. Then there is the incredibly talented Alexander Sovronsky, who arranged and performs the music, and who Godwin has moving the play seamlessly from scene to scene.
The creative team as usual, at the Shakespeare, is great. This time the standouts are the Scenic Designer, Andrew Boyce, and Costume Designer, Heather C. Freedman.
The Wild Duck will be at the Klein Theatre through November 16th. I urge you to buy your tickets today, as it will be sold out soon.
