Ibsen Hedda Gabler

Full Text and Introduction (NHB Drama Classics)
1. Auflage 2014
ISBN: 978-1-78001-421-0
Verlag: Nick Hern Books
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 130 Seiten

Reihe: NHB Drama Classics

Drama Classics: The World's Great Plays at a Great Little Price Restless and discontented in her marriage, Hedda Gabler is drawn to a former admirer, Lovborg, now a brilliant writer. But he is more taken with Hedda's old schoolfriend. Driven by jealousy, Hedda destroys Lovborg and his precious manuscript and, finally, herself. This English version of Henrik Ibsen's play Hedda Gabler, published in the Nick Hern Books Drama Classics series, is translated and introduced by Kenneth McLeish.

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. His plays include: Brand, Peer Gynt, A Doll's House, Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, Hedda Gabler, Rosmersholm, The Master Builder, Little Eyolf, John Gabriel Borkman and When We Dead Awaken.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Ibsen, Henrik

Weitere Mitwirkende

Mcleish, Kenneth

Leseproben

ACT ONE

A smart, spacious living room, stylishly decorated in dark colours. Upstage, a wide double-doorway, with its curtains drawn back, leads into a smaller room, decorated in the same style. Right, exit to the hall. Opposite left, through a glass screen door with its curtains also drawn back, can be seen part of a raised verandah and a garden. It is autumn. Centre stage, dining chairs and an oval table covered with a cloth. Downstage right, against the wall, a dark tiled stove, a wing chair, an upholstered footstool and two stools. Upstage right, a corner seat and a small table. Downstage left, a little out from the wall, a sofa. Upstage of the screen door, a piano. On either side of the main double-doorway, whatnots displaying artefacts of terracotta and majolica. In the inner room can be seen a sofa, a table and two chairs. Over the sofa hangs the portrait of a handsome elderly man in general’s uniform. Over the table, a hanging lamp with a pearled glass shade. All round the main room are vases and glass containers full of cut flowers; other bouquets lie on the tables. Thick carpets in both rooms. Sunlight streams in through the screen door.

Enter MISS JULIA TESMAN and BERTA from the hall. BERTA is carrying a bouquet. MISS TESMAN is a placid-looking woman of about 65. Her grey outdoor clothes are plain but well-made. BERTA is a simple countrywoman, getting on in years. MISS TESMAN stops in the doorway and listens.

MISS TESMAN (in a low voice). They aren’t up yet!

BERTA (in a low voice). I told you, Miss Tesman. The boat came in very late last night. And even then, mercy!, the things the young lady had to unpack before she’d go to bed.

MISS TESMAN. We won’t disturb them. But we will let some air in for when they do get up.

She opens the screen door, wide. BERTA, at the table, is not sure what to do with her flowers.

BERTA. There’s no room anywhere. I’ll put them over here.

She props them on the piano.

MISS TESMAN. Just fancy, Berta – you, and a new mistress. I don’t know how I brought myself to part with you.

BERTA (close to tears). It was hard for me too, Miss Tesman. After all these years, with you and Miss Rina.

MISS TESMAN. Now, Berta, what else could we do? Jørgen needs you here. Needs you. Ever since he was a little boy, he’s relied on you.

BERTA. Oh Miss Tesman, I keep thinking of that poor lady lying at home. Can’t do a thing for herself, poor soul. And a new maid now. That one won’t learn how to look after an invalid.

MISS TESMAN. I’ll show her. And I’ll do much more myself. Dear Berta, for my poor sister’s sake, don’t worry so.

BERTA. There’s something else, Miss Tesman. The new mistress . . . I’m afraid . . . I won’t give satisfaction.

MISS TESMAN. Don’t be silly. There may be a few small difficulties, at first –

BERTA. She’s such a particular lady.

MISS TESMAN. Of course she is. General Gabler’s daughter. The style she had, when her father was alive! D’you remember her riding beside him, down the road? In that long black skirt? With the feather in her hat?

BERTA. Oh yes, Miss Tesman. I’d never have dreamed, back then, that one day she’d marry Mr Jørgen.

MISS TESMAN. We none of us dreamed it, Berta. But so she did. Oh and Berta, you mustn’t call Jørgen ‘Mister’ any more. He’s ‘Doctor Tesman’ now.

BERTA. The young lady told me that as well, as soon as they got in last night.

MISS TESMAN. Just fancy, Berta, they made him a doctor while he was away. On honeymoon. I didn’t know a thing about it, till he told me at the pier last night.

BERTA. Such a clever man. He can do anything he sets his mind to. But even so . . . curing people!

MISS TESMAN. Not that kind of doctor. (With meaning.) In any case, before long you may be calling him something else.

BERTA. Miss Tesman, what do you mean?

MISS TESMAN (with a smile). Ah! Wait and see. (With emotion.) If poor dear Jochum could only come back, and see what’s become of his little boy! (Looking round.) Berta, what have you . . . ? Why ever have you . . . ? You’ve uncovered all the furniture.

BERTA. Madam told me. She won’t have covers on chairs, she said.

MISS TESMAN. So they’ll be using this room, making this their sitting room?

BERTA. So madam said. Mr Jørgen . . . Doctor Tesman . . . he said nothing.

Enter TESMAN from the inner room, right. He is humming, and carrying an empty, unlocked suitcase. He is 33, fresh-faced, medium height, stoutish. Blonde hair and beard; round, open, happy face. Glasses; casual, almost rumpled clothes.

MISS TESMAN. Good morning, Jørgen.

TESMAN (in the doorway). Aunt Julia! Aunt Julia! (Shaking her hand.) Fancy coming all this way, so early. All this way.

MISS TESMAN. I had to see you both, take a good look at you.

TESMAN. You’ve hardly had time to sleep.

MISS TESMAN. That doesn’t matter.

TESMAN. You got home from the pier all right?

MISS TESMAN. Judge Brack was very kind, took me right to the door.

TESMAN. We were so sorry we couldn’t give you a lift. But you saw for yourself. The carriage was full. All Hedda’s luggage.

MISS TESMAN. Hedda’s luggage. Yes.

BERTA (to TESMAN). Shall I go and ask madam if she needs any help?

TESMAN. No, Berta. Thank you. There’s no need. She says she’ll ring if she wants you.

BERTA (about to go). Yes.

TESMAN. Oh Berta, take this suitcase.

BERTA (taking it). I’ll put it in the attic.

Exit through the hall, right.

TESMAN. It was wonderful, Aunt Julia. That whole case, full of notes. You wouldn’t believe what I found, going round the museums. Old documents, artefacts, things no one’s bothered with before.

MISS TESMAN. Dear Jørgen! You made good use of your honeymoon?

TESMAN. I certainly did. But take your hat off, auntie. Here, I’ll unpin it for you.

MISS TESMAN (while he does so). It’s as if you were still at home with us.

TESMAN (turning the hat over). What a wonderful hat! Is it new?

MISS TESMAN. I bought it because of Hedda.

TESMAN. Pardon?

MISS TESMAN. So that she won’t be embarrassed when we go for walks together.

TESMAN (patting her cheek). Aunt Julia, how thoughtful you are!

He puts the hat on a chair by the table.

Sit down, here on the sofa, next to me. Let’s have a gossip, till Hedda comes.

They sit. She rests her parasol in the corner of the sofa. She takes his hands and gazes at him.

MISS TESMAN. It’s so good to have you home again. Dear Jørgen. Poor Jochum’s own little boy.

TESMAN. Dear Aunt Julia. You’ve been father and mother to me, all these years.

MISS TESMAN. Promise you won’t forget your poor old aunties.

TESMAN. How is Aunt Rina? No better?

MISS TESMAN. Oh Jørgen, you know she’ll never get better. She’s lying there, as she’s lain there all this time. Every day I pray the good Lord to spare her for a few years more. If she died, I don’t know what I’d do. Especially now, Jørgen, now I don’t have you to look after.

TESMAN (patting her back). Now, now, now.

MISS TESMAN (brightening). Just imagine, we never expected to see Jørgen Tesman married. And to Hedda Gabler, too. Imagine. You, and Hedda. She had so many beaux.

TESMAN (smiling, humming a little tune). You’re right. Some of my friends must be quite green-eyed. No doubt of it. No doubt.

MISS TESMAN. And such a long honeymoon! Five . . . six months.

TESMAN. I made it a field trip. All those museums. All those books to read.

MISS TESMAN. That’s right. (Lower, more confiding.) You . . . haven’t any other news?

TESMAN. From the honeymoon?

MISS TESMAN. Exactly.

TESMAN. I don’t think so. It was all in my letters. My doctorate – I told you that yesterday.

MISS TESMAN. Of course you did. I’m talking about . . . other prospects.

TESMAN. Prospects?

MISS TESMAN. Oh Jørgen, I am your aunt.

TESMAN. Well, of course I’ve other prospects.

MISS TESMAN. I thought so!

TESMAN. For example, I’m pretty sure that one day I’ll be . . . a professor.

MISS TESMAN. A professor.

TESMAN. In fact, not ‘pretty sure’: really sure. But you know that already, auntie.

MISS TESMAN (with a light laugh). That’s right. (Changed tone.) But we were talking about the honeymoon. It must have cost a fortune.

TESMAN. I did have that grant.

MISS TESMAN. Enough for two? I don’t believe it.

TESMAN. Not entirely.

MISS TESMAN. Of course not. Two never travel as cheaply as one. Especially when one of them’s a lady. That’s what people say.

TESMAN. It’s true. But Hedda needed that trip. No question. Needed it.

MISS TESMAN. A honeymoon abroad. That’s essential nowadays. Or so they say. Well now, Jørgen, have you had time to look round the house?

TESMAN. I’ve been up since dawn, exploring.

MISS TESMAN. And what d’you think?

TESMAN. Wonderful! Won-derful! The only thing I can’t imagine . . . What will we do with those two empty rooms, between the...