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at Heady Hedda
Love. Ambition. Money.
Power. Hedda Gabler may
be a 100-year-old play, but
it touches on some very
timeless elements.
But to keep things
interesting, there’s a new adaptation
of the classic Henrik Ibsen tragedy,
which first opened in Germany in 1891.
It opens Jan. 25 at the American Airlines
eatre in Manhattan. (Previews start
Jan. 6.)
To keep things even more
interesting, the Roundabout eatre
Company has cast Tony, Emmy and
Golden Globe winner Mary-Louise
Parker in the title role—one that has
been called one of the most challenging
female dramatic roles in theater.
(It should be quite
a change from Nancy
The play is a Botwin, the soccer
Mary-Louise Parker
psychological mom-drug dealer
tackles one of theater’s
toughest roles—Henrik
thriller, to be character Parker plays
Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.
sure, but it
on Weeds, the drama
on Showtime.)
also tackles
At the beginning of the play, e someone else is Ejlert Lovborg (Paul
social issues.
we find Hedda has returned Sparks), a recovering alcoholic writer who got
from her honeymoon. We soon lucky with one great work. He’s come into Hedda
discover that the honeymoon and Jorgen’s life through their friend ea Elvsted,
really is over, and Hedda’s life will not be as who is so in love with Ejlert she has left her
luxurious as she’d hoped. Her husband, Jorgen husband to be near him.
Tesman (played by Tony Award winner Michael is puts our characters in a bit of a bind:
Cerveris), announces that he’s out of money, ea is pining for Ejlert, Jorgen thinks he’s
and that the position he was hoping for at the competing with Ejlert for the job, Ejlert is
university looks to be going to someone else. fighting his own demons trying not to drink
