Rosmersholm

Henrik Ibsen, Duncan Macmillan

• Publisher: Oberon Books
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781786827722
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Theatre

Duncan Macmillan's stunning and resonant adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's Rosmersholm. This revival of a masterpiece charts love, politics, past and future, with plenty of twists thrown in for good measure. Rosmersholm is positioned against the backdrop of a looming election, an atmosphere of uncertainty and a bloodthirsty press. In the grand house of an influential dynasty, John Rosmer holds the future in his hands. As he wanders the line between idealism and a painful past, he finds himself ever more torn.

Act One

Darkness.

The sound of a nearby mill – enormous, powerful, rhythmic. Wind through tall trees. Deep, fast-moving water.

The creaking of a large old wooden house under the pressure of running feet – moving over the floor above, across a landing and down stairs.

A door flies open, allowing a thin shard of reflected daylight into the room. Dust particles move in the air. A woman runs barefoot through the darkness, dropping shoes and knocking chairs over as she approaches a tall window and tries to open its shutters. Frustrated in her urgency, she struggles with the catches but finally gets them open. Bright, early afternoon sunlight spills in, allowing us to see –

A large sitting room at Rosmersholm, a grand country house in South Norway, late summer, 1886. A single entrance leads to a hallway with a large front door and staircase. Portraits cover the walls – military officers, clergy, senior public servants – generations of Rosmer men. The furniture in the room has been covered with white sheets. There are birch branches and stones for decoration. There is evidence of water damage on the walls and floorboards. It is austere, colourless, formal. The woman is breathless, leaning against the glass, searching for something outside. Her hair is loose, her bright summer dress is unlaced at the back. She is an unlikely intervention into this masculine environment. This is REBECCA WEST.

HELSETH: (Off, distant.) Pastor?

REBECCA tries to open the window.

(Off.) Pastor Rosmer?

MRS HELSETH, the Senior Housekeeper, enters the room, holding a number of newspapers, and stops for a moment, surprised to see REBECCA.

That window won’t open without –

WEST: Can you help me? I’m –

REBECCA winces in pain – having just cut her hand on the window frame. She looks at the blood, then sucks it, continuing to try the window with her other hand. MRS HELSETH puts down the newspapers and approaches the window to assist REBECCA, finding a key on the sill and unlocking it, then moving a sandbag from the bottom of the frame.

REBECCA opens the window and leans out of it. The sound of the water mill is overpowering. Thin white curtains blow in the wind. Fresh air enters the stale room. MRS HELSETH steps back and observes REBECCA. She slowly looks around the room, fixing on a sheet-covered armchair opposite the window. A chill passes through her. She’s anxious about being in here.

REBECCA suddenly steps away from the window, hiding from view. MRS HELSETH turns back to the window.

HELSETH: Is it the Pastor?

REBECCA holds her back, gently.

WEST: He’ll see you!

MRS HELSETH peers out, subtly.

Is he taking the path?

HELSETH: The one by the mill?

Yes.

WEST: (Excited.) He did yesterday too. And twice the day before.

But / will he –

HELSETH: Will he cross the footbridge?

They wait. It becomes too much for REBECCA w...