On Sunday, June 7 at 1:30 pm Eastern Time, please join us for a reading of Henrik Ibsen’s The Lady from the Sea. The play was chosen by classmate Eric Forsythe and is in the group’s tradition of discovering or rediscovering classics. The last play we read was Gwyneth Forsythe’s (Eric’s daughter) superb new playThe Posthumous Trial of Giulia Tofana.
You may have read the kudos for the play reading group that Class scribe (i.e., Secretary) Tex Talmadge added to his Class notes in the most recent issue of the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine. We invite all to attend, whether in the cast, or as an audience member.
Lady from the Sea is not often produced, but I was fortunate to see a production in 2000 at the Theater for the First Amendment (yes, that is the name) at George Mason University in Virginia. It was directed by Rick Davis, who had served in a dramaturg role at Center Stage, Baltimore. It is well worth your time to attend our reading. Ibsen and August Strindberg paved the way for modern drama in the 20th century (and into the 21st), writing in reaction to the well-made plays that centered on the mechanical reveal of objects to move along the plot, i.e., A Scrap of Paper by Sardou and A Glass of Water by Scribe (definitely not the glass of water at the center of conflict in Pinter’s The Homecoming).
A further note: Professor James Clancy taught a course in modern drama our freshman year (after which he left Dartmouth to teach and direct at Cornell). We read 40 plays in one term (10 weeks), or one play each class. 80 students were in the class, held in the downstairs studio theater at the Hop. We read Scribe, Sardou, Ibsen, Strindberg, O’Neill, Albee, and many others. It gave me a base of knowledge that has served me well over my life. Today, such a rigorous course would not be offered, and, if offered, perhaps three students would sign up.
If you want to attend (and applaud us with fervor!), please let me know by close of business on Friday, June 5 by the close of business by emailing me at arthur.fergenson@ansalaw.com . Indicate whether you want to be part of the cast or the audience.
Ibsen challenged his audience. Be part of it.
Arthur Fergenson