The Lady from the Sea

Henrik Ibsen, David Eldridge

• Publisher: Methuen Drama
• Year: 2010
• ISBN:
  9781408140932
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Literatur
• Subtopic: Drama

David Eldridge's new version of Ibsen's classic play, published to coincide with its premiere at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, October 2010. When the lighthouse keeper's daughter Ellida meets the widower Dr Wangel, she tries to put her long-lost first love far behind her and begin a new life as a wife and stepmother. But the tide is turning, an English ship is coming down the fjord, and the undercurrents threaten to drag a whole family beneath the surface in this passionate and sweeping drama. Ellida must choose between the values of the land: solidity and reliability against those of the sea: mystery and fluidity. Ibsen's lyrical and still startlingly modern masterpiece, anticipated the emergence of psychoanalysis and talking cures. Similar to Hedda Gabler and A Doll's House, The Lady from the Sea vibrantly explores the constrained social position of women, exploring themes of choice, marriage, responsibility and freedom. David Eldridge's translation is subtle, faithful and sensitive to Ibsen's language, and makes this classic play accessible to the English reader without compromising any of the original's intensely poetic and atmospheric tone.

Act One

Doctor Wangel’s house with a large covered veranda and a garden, which surrounds the house. In the garden there’s a flagpole and an arbour with a table and some chairs. There’s a hedge with a small gate leading to a tree-lined path along the coastline.

Through the trees the fjord, high mountain ranges and peaks can be seen in the distance. It is a warm and brilliantly clear summer morning.

Ballested, middle-aged, and wearing an old velvet jacket and a wide-brimmed artist’s hat, is standing beneath the flagpole, busying himself with the line. The flag is lying on the ground. A little distance from him stands an easel with a canvas on it. Next to it is a camping stool on which lie brushes, a palette and a paint box.

Bolette Wangel comes out of the house and on to the veranda. She is carrying a big vase of flowers, which she places on the table.

Bolette Ballested, how are you getting on with it?

Ballested Fine, thank you, Miss Wangel. It’s no bother, really. If you don’t mind me saying, are you expecting visitors today?

Bolette Yes, Mr Arnholm’s expected this morning. He came in to town last night.

Ballested Arnholm? Wait a minute, wasn’t Arnholm . . . didn’t he used to be the tutor here years ago?

Bolette Yes, he did.

Ballested So he’s come back again to the water.

Bolette That’s why we want to run the flag up the pole.

Ballested And, my dear, what a good idea it is too.

Bolette goes in to the house.

Lyngstrand appears on the path behind the hedge. He notices the easel and paints. He is a thin young man, decently dressed, if a little shabby, and is of a delicate appearance.

Lyngstrand Good morning.

This makes Ballested jump.

Ballested Oh, good morning.

He hoists the flag up the pole.

Up she goes.

He secures the line and then busies himself with the easel.

Good morning, sir, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure?

Lyngstrand You’re a painter?

Ballested Yes, I am. Why, shouldn’t I be?

Lyngstrand Might I be allowed to come in to the garden?

Ballested Would you like to have a look at my work?

Lyngstrand Yes, that would be splendid.

Ballested There’s not much to see yet. But, please. Do come and have a look.

Lyngstrand Thank you.

He enters through the garden gate and Ballested takes up his easel and brush.

Ballested You see, the fjord between those islands over there.

Lyngstrand Oh yes, I can see them.

Ballested Of course, it’s impossible to find a model in this town.

Lyngstrand Would you like to incorporate a human figure in to your composition as well?

Ballested Yes, there on the rock, in the foreground. A mermaid. But she’s half-dead.

Lyngstrand Half-dead?

Ballested Oh yes, you see, she’s lost and she can’t get back out to the ocean again. And so, you see, she’s stranded there in the fetid, brackish water, dying. You see?

Lyngstrand Oh, yes, I see.

Ballested The lady of the house has inspired me.

Lyngstrand And what will you call it when it’s finished?

Ballested ‘The End of the Mermaid’.

Lyngstrand Yes, I’m sure it will be a great success.

Ballested considers Lyngstrand.

Ballested Are you in the business at all?

Lyngstrand Am I a painter?

Ballested Yes.

Lyngstrand No. No, I’m not. But I would very much like to be a sculptor. My name’s Hans Lyngstrand.

Ballested A sculptor? Well, well, sculpting is also a fine and beautiful art form. On its day. Now I look at you, I think I may have seen you in town. Have you been with us long?

Lyngstrand Only for a fortnight. But I would like to see if I can stay for the summer.

Ballested And enjoy the amenities and the warm weather, no doubt?

Lyngstrand Yes, I’m trying to get my strength back.

Ballested I hope your constitution isn’t too delicate?

Lyngstrand I am a little delicate, but it’s nothing particularly serious. I have a tight feeling in my chest every now and again.

Ballested A trifle, I’m sure. But you should see a good doctor all the same.

Lyngstrand I thought of asking to see Doctor Wangel if I get the chance.

Ballested Yes, you should.

He is distracted by a steamer on the fjord.

Here comes another steamer. Bursting at the seams with passengers. In the last few years there have been so many more visitors who come here for the day than we ever could have expected.

Lyngstrand Yes, I’ve noticed there are a lot of people.

Ballested And they don’t only come for the day. A lot of them come here for the whole summer. And without any consideration for the people that live here. I sometimes fear our town will lose its character. Because of all these strangers.

Lyngstrand Were you born here?

Ballested No, but I have become part of the furniture. And the place is in me now.

Lyngstrand Have you lived here for a long time?

Ballested Oh yes, seventeen or eighteen years now. I came here with Skive’s theatre company. But then we ran into financial difficulties, the company disbanded and we were scattered to the four winds.

Lyngstrand But you stayed?

Ballested Yes, I stayed. And I did very nicely out of it too. I was an ...