The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-22

ing IL GIl6 great CIVIC dppIeCIdtSu Ills
1 have seen the Civic theater in
New York do Ibsen and I found
the same care that has made Ibsen
human and intelligent just off
Broadway, very apparent at the
Playhouse.
It seems to me-that I am COM
pIeteIy honest when I tell you that
THE Wild Duck" is the best thing
that the Little Theatre has done in
my experience.
This production guarantees its
usefulness in indianapolis for years
to come. 1t paves the way for more
Ibsen and an annual presentation
of Shakespeare. You see am back
harping again on my pet-annual
Shakespeare at the Little Theatre.
There are many reasons for the
success of this Ibsen play last night.
The first I should say is the cast.
There was better all round casting
for 1.-THE Wild Duck" than in any
previous production.
There we're four outstanding char
acterizations last night. The four
are George Somnes as Hjalrnar Eek
dial; the Gina Eckdal of Jeanne
Merrill Wagner; the Hedvig EckdaI
of Virginia Byers, and the Old Eek
dial of Hardin Callithan.
These characterizations were so
humanity and tragically IbSen that
at times 1 had the feeling that here
we had at least an all-star cast of
four playing the major roles.
This is not said in the spirit of
f1attery but my honest conviction.
I have seen a bunch of Ibsen and
some of it has been terrible.
Ibsen is human. His satire is Bit
ing, but honest and there is always
tragedy there. Have seen George
Somnes many times on the stage
and he has often been masterful
but never to that degree as when
he played Hjalmar last night.
He caught the heavy touch of the
tragedy of the character with as
much ease as he did the lighter and
humanity pathetic side of the char
acter.
Jeanne Merrill Wagner looks the
Gina that Ibsen must have had in
mind. She dresses the part, walks
the part and talks the part in true
Ibsen spirit. And that is master
full.
Virginia Byers as Hedvig, who
takes her own life as sacrifice so
that her father would love her again
and so get his release from gloom,
is another fine example of what may
be accomplished in acting at the
Little Theatre.
It is interesting to note how
Hardin Callithan is growing in the
power of complete characterization
under the true direction of George
Somnes.
There was one or two cases of
miscasting, but this does not dam
age the picture.
On the whole the cast is so worthy
that I give it to you as follows;
Werle. manufacturer. w. Austin Bruce
Gregers Werle, his SON.. Robert s. S;,,t WIG a
3ia a,n GeEo ackdai his son George somnes
Giha Eckaai' ms " jeanne Merrill wagner
Hedvig, their daughter. Virginia Byers
Mrs. Sorby, Werle's housekeeper. .....
...'... Mrs. Grace Clarke Pierce
MoivisS.' a theological student, ;;,,,.,.
Graberg, Werles bookkeeper.
................. Gordon F. Engler
| Peterson, a servant. -. Hamilton Clarke
! Jensen. another servant. .Almon J. Coble
Chamberlain Kaspersen.
! Chamberlain Bale. 1900. EDWARD Green
| Chamberlain Flor. Anthony J. 1auck Jr-
| other dinner guests: Paul j. Harrington,
Vernon Bronson. Volney Hampton,
Allen G. Miller. William Garvin
| Bastian and william f.
HickSon.
Maids at Werle's: Margaret Gabriel, Betty
Hargitt and Annalee
Howell
The direction of George Somnes
has never been finer or more true
and intelligent than in "The Wild