The Wild Duck

Originally announced to open on 27th October, this production was delayed when Anmer Hall’s previous presentation, A MONTH IN THE COUNTRY, was extended by a week. This show, too, was extended, pushing Hall’s revival of Granville Barker’s WASTE to a 1st December opening. (‘Chit Chat’, The Stage 19th November 1936.)

Cast & Crew

Cast

1st guest
2nd guest
3rd guest
Gina Ekdal
Graaberg
Gregers Werle
Hedvig
Hjalmar Ekdal
Jensen
Molvik
Mrs Sorby
Old Ekdal
Pettersen
Relling
Werle

Crew

Costume & Scenery Design
Director

Photographs

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Observations

  1. On 18th January 2024 at 4:13 a.m., EvilTwinBob noted:

    Comment: Stephen Murray was supposed to play the part of Hjalmar Ekdal but was replaced by Alan Napier.

    Reviews: The Spectator praised the production except for Alan Napier’s “disastrous Hjalmar” (13/11/1936)

    “Every word of this piece is engrossing. ”It’s as well put together as a detective play“ commented the man behind me. Praise for Ibsen! The part of Hjalmar, like that of Torvald in ‘The Doll’s House,” is so overdrawn that it is hard to act satisfactorily. Alan Napier makes the easy but fatal mistake of letting us see that he thinks he is acting an egregious ass. Marius Goring as Gregers is better. Best of all is Ruth Wynn Owen, who, as Hedvig, tears your heart by the simplicity and directness of her father-worship. Susan Richards excellent as her mother.“ (Sunday Mirror 08/11/1936)

    ”Certainly the revival of this famous play at the Westminster had nothing startling or complex about it, though of all the Ibsen plays this probably wears the best. The revival is acted and produced extremely well. Mr. Marius Goring as the fanatical Gregers, and Mr. Cecil Trouncer as the rum old dog, Ekdal, were particularly good.“ (Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News 13/11/1936)

    ”Bad acting can sometimes be more illuminating than good. Alan Napier’s Hjalmar, in the revival of “The Wild Duck”, the second presentation of Amner Hall’s Westminster season, surprised on by its very wrongness into a better understanding of what Ibsen was about when he wrote the play.“ (The Era 11/11/1936)

    ”Mr Napier’s industrious humour lends itself not to satire but to comedy. The Gregers Werle of Mr. Marius Goring, on the other hand, is a just and penetrating study of a mind which can take in a battle cry but is unfitted by lack of proportion and self-knowledge to conduct a campaign." (Times 04/11/1936)

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