DIGITAL PROGRAM
Flock Theatre Presents
Hedda Gabler
By Henrik Ibsen
Translated by Edmund Gosse and William Archer
Adapted by Flock Theatre
Director - Derron Wood
Costumer - Laura Galgowski
Musical Accompaniment- Ben Shafer
Stage Manager - Kristen Rowe
Costume Consultant/Assistance- Teresa Wilensky
Set Assistance- Kevin Murphy
Light/Sound Board Operator- Ryan Brearley
Cast
Hedda Tesman- Madeleine Dauer
George Tesman- Hayden Burger
Miss Juliana Tesman- Liz Binger
Thea Elvsted- Cat McDonald
Judge Brack- Kip Hashagen
Eilert Lovborg- Victor Chiburis
Berta- Anne Flammang
CAST BIOS
Liz Binger (Aunt Julle) is happy to be back on stage with Flock Theatre for their production of Hedda Gabler. Over the past eleven years, her roles with Flock include Big Momma in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Hecate in MacBeth, Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, Mrs. Jennings in Sense & Sensibility, and Mrs. Reed in Jane Eyre. She also performed the role of Mrs. Reed in Flock's virtual production of Jane Eyre in 2020. In addition, for several years, Liz had the pleasure of serving as Mother Solstice in Flock Theatre's long-time production of Make We Joy, including their virtual performance in 2020.
Hayden Burger (George Tesman) is delighted to work with Flock Theater for the first time, primarily because Laura keeps finding suits that actually fit him. Past roles include Axel Hammond in The Nerd and Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors.
Victor Chiburis (Eilert Lovborg) is Flock Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director. In addition to directing, acting, & serving many other roles within the company, he is a Teaching Artist for the State of CT (H.O.T schools program) where he designs & implements curriculum-based arts integration residencies with public school teachers. He also fronted the alternative folk music group, The Friendly Ghost. BFA Marymount Manhattan College.
Madeleine Dauer (Hedda Gabler) is a multidisciplinary theatre maker, actor, and puppeteer. In addition to working with Flock for many years, Madeleine's work has otherwise been seen locally at the Westport Country Playhouse and The Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center in-workshop developing Off-Broadway pieces and at the National Puppetry Conference. Regional work: Chicago International Puppetry Festival; Mercury Store; Dixon Place; Target Margin; The BRICK; SOTL; NYSPF; Seattle Children's Theatre; WET. Film: She Came From The Woods (TUBI); The Murder Pact (Lifetime); Christmas On The Carousel (Amazon). Madeleine has narrated over 50 audiobooks for Tantor Media and Audible. Up next: KAYFABE, a WWE themed puppetry piece most recently performed at the Chicago Puppetry Festival, heads to Las Vegas in April.
Anne Flammang (Bertha) is an actor, producer, and writer. Previously with Flock: First Witch and Lady Macbeth (Macbeth), Beatrice (Much Ado about Nothing), Titania (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), and Mary Tyrone in Flock Theatre’s award-winning production of Long Day’s Journey into Night, the first full-length production mounted in the Monte Cristo Cottage. Other regional: Dolly Levi (Hello, Dolly!), Lilli Vanessi (Kiss Me, Kate), Carrie Snow (Carousel), and “Frost Warnings” (She/Her). Founder of the Depot for New Play Readings, in ten years, Anne has produced 70 readings for award-winning playwrights from across the country. Anne is a Pushcart Prize nominee for the essay “First Practice” and is currently seeking representation for her book The Oarswomen, a memoir about coaching crew at the U. S. Coast Guard Academy. Thanks to Derron and Victor for the opportunity to work with this fantastic cast and to S, who doesn’t mind when I can’t always make dinner. Hineni. (www.lucretiaflammang.com)
Kip Hashagen (Judge Brack) played the King of France in last summer's Henry V, his first acting role in more than 20 years. In Flock's first decade he played Malvolio in Twelfth Night, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester in Henry IV, Part One. Other roles from way, way back: Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, Charles in Pippin and Fagin in Oliver! Kip would like to thank the cast and crew for helping him find his inner Brack.
Cat McDonald (Thea Elvsted) is thrilled to be performing with Flock Theatre at the Shaw Mansion once again. Cat has performed with Flock in a variety of shows since 2018 including (but not limited to!) Caroline Bingley in “Pride and Prejudice,” Helena in “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and Rosalind in “As You Like It.” Cat wants to thank everyone with Flock for being the wonderfully supportive community they are. So much love and gratitude to you all. And always love to Grandma Ruth, Honeybun, Pippa, Penny, and Westley
Kristen Rowe (Stage Manager) is an associate artist at Flock Theatre and has worked with them for over 23 years mostly in the role as a stage manager. Recent acting credits include Lion in Midsummer Nights Dream, Hecate in Macbeth and Cathleen in Long Day’s Journey for one performance. Thank you to Derron and Victor for all of your continued support.
Derron Wood (Director) A graduate of Connecticut College, Derron also trained with the Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theatre Center & attended the Leningrad State Institute of Music, Theatre & Cinematography in Leningrad. From 1986 to 1989 he studied Shakespeare under Morris Carnovsky. Derron’s early work in masks & puppetry earned Flock an invitation to become part of the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in 1997. Derron has developed numerous educational- based residencies for schools & museums throughout Connecticut. He is a recipient of Connecticut’s Master Teaching Artist Status, awarded by the Connecticut Commission on the Arts. He is also a Mentor for the Master Teaching Artist Program.
Flock Plot- HEDDA GABLER
(Spoilers ahead!)
In Kristiania (Oslo), Norway, at the home of George and Hedda Tesman. ~1890
Act 1
Miss Julie Tesman visits the home of her nephew, George Tesman, a scholar of history. Aunt Julie raised and still financially supports George while also taking care of her ailing sister, Rina. It is the day after George and his wife, Hedda, have returned from their honeymoon. Berta, the servant, worries about being able to please Hedda, who was the daughter of the famous General Gabler and accustomed to a lavish lifestyle. George enters and catches up with his aunt, excited about all of the historical research he accomplished on the trip, which should help secure him a new position (and salary) that will help them pay for their new home and the married life Hedda expects. A restless and dissatisfied Hedda enters and is pointedly rude to Aunt Julie. It is implied that Hedda is now pregnant, although George has yet to catch on. After Aunt Julie leaves, George implores Hedda to be kinder to her.
Thea Elvsted, a former acquaintance of both Hedda and George, soon arrives in a panic. She has come to town looking for Eilert Lovborg, a previous colleague of George’s who has served as the tutor at the Elvsted’s the past few years. Eilert is now sober after many years of alcoholism but Thea fears he’ll relapse while alone in the city. Thea also tells the Tesmans about the glorious success of Eilert’s new book in the same field of study as George. Hedda convinces George to write a long letter of invitation to Eilert then quickly presses Mrs. Elvsted to confide in her once he leaves. Hedda invokes their schoolyard “friendship”, though in reality she was always cruel to Thea. Nevertheless, Thea reveals that she has actually run away from her husband, who is older and ignores her, and that she is in love with Eilert. She fell for him while she assisted him in writing his new books. Aside from his drinking, Thea fears that another woman is in his life, one who allegedly threatened to shoot him.
George posts the letter to Eilert and Thea leaves. Judge Brack then arrives. He and Tesman converse alone about the house (which Brack helped secure and furnish with generous loans); Hedda’s expensive tastes; and Eilert’s redemption. Hedda returns and Brack reveals that George’s new professorship has now been made conditional only after a scholarly competition with Eilert Lovborg. Brack leaves and while George is visibly distressed, Hedda offers no comfort. Frustrated that she may not receive the life she was promised, she finds reassurance that there is one thing she can still amuse herself with: her father’s old pistols.
Act 2
Later that day, Hedda stands at the back door with her pistol and playfully fires at Judge Brack as he enters through the garden gate. He is relieved to find that Tesman is not home, although he came to fetch him, so that he and Hedda may gossip. They talk about how bored Hedda was on the honeymoon and how she fell into the marriage after feeling afraid of being too old for single life. George was a safe bet and promised some form of wealth due to his prospects of professorship, so why not? Judge Brack does not desire married life but is eager to insert himself as a “third” and/or “friend” where he can be “useful” in every way.
Tesman enters with a pile of new books, including Eilert’s, despite their current financial woes. George immediately leaves to get ready for a bachelor party in his honor at Judge Brack’s that evening. He also informs Hedda that Aunt Julie will not be revisiting that evening because Aunt Rina is sicker than usual. Hedda confesses to Brack that she took pity on Tesman the previous summer as he walked her home from parties. At a loss for discussion one night, she casually made a comment about this house as they walked by. One thing led to another and they were married, though Hedda feels thoroughly unstimulated and bored by the whole affair. Brack hints that a potential baby on the way would occupy her time, but she hears none of it.
Eilert Lovborg arrives and reveals the manuscript of an even newer book about the future of civilization. He offers to read Tesman some of it before they invite him to the party at Judge Brack’s. Eilert declines and Hedda takes the opportunity to invite him to supper at their home instead. Eilert reassures Tesman that he will not compete with him for the professorship, as he only cares about the “moral victory” of his work and redemption in society.
When Hedda and Lovborg are alone, it is revealed that they once had a very close “friendship” where Hedda asked about his escapades and he would confess his debauchery to her. It ended poorly when Eilert made some sort of advance and she threatened to shoot him. Thea enters and both Hedda and Eilert antagonize each other, using Thea as fodder. Hedda reveals how concerned Thea was for Eilert this morning and, feeling betrayed, he downs a few drinks in spite. As Tesman and Brack begin to leave, Lovborg changes his mind and accepts their invitation to the party to prove to everyone that he can control his addiction. He promises to return and fetch Thea later that evening. When the gentlemen leave, Hedda reveals that she constructed this situation to “have the power to mold a human destiny” and she hopes that Eilert will return with metaphorical “vine-leaves” in his hair. Impulsively, she threatens to burn Thea’s hair before Berta interrupts with tea.
INTERMISSION
Act 3
The next morning, George enters after staying out all night, only to find Hedda waiting. He tells her that Eilert’s book is so remarkable that he has become jealous of him. Apparently, the party became so lively that Eilert could not control his drinking. While they were taking Eilert home, George fell behind and found the manuscript of Eilert's book on the ground. Instead of giving it back to him in his drunken state, George kept it and eventually broke off from most of the party, where he then went to have coffee at another acquaintance’s before returning home. George plans on returning the manuscript once Eilert has gotten some rest but then Hedda gives him a letter from Aunt Julie. He learns that Aunt Rina is dying and rushes to go see her before it is too late, leaving behind the manuscript with Hedda.
Judge Brack arrives and informs Hedda that Eilert ended up at Mademoiselle Diana’s, a madame at a brothel that Eilert used to frequent. After “a most tender meeting”, Eilert accused her of stealing the manuscript and a brawl broke out between the men and women, which the police broke up. Judge Brack has come to warn Hedda and Tesman to ensure they no longer welcome Eilert in their house, both due to public scandal and because Judge Brack prefers to be the only companion in their social “triangle”. He implies that he will do anything in his power to remain so and then leaves.
Eilert Lovborg enters, a mess from the night before, looking for Thea, who has been at the Tesman’s all night. Lovborg tells Thea that they must no longer be together since his life is ruined and that he has torn the manuscript and thrown the pieces into the fjord. Heartbroken and at a loss of what to do, Thea leaves. Hedda demands the truth from Eilert and he reveals that he lost the manuscript. Feeling as if he will never recover, he intends to commit suicide and Hedda asks him to do it “beautifully” before giving him one of the pistols. After he leaves, Hedda takes the manuscript and burns it in the fireplace, saying that she is burning the “child” of Thea Elvsted and Eilert Lovborg.
Act 4
That evening, Aunt Julie enters in mourning clothes, as Aunt Rina has passed. She is saddened by the loss but hints once again that there will soon be new life in the house for her to help take care of. After she exits, Tesman is still distraught about Eilert and his manuscript. He asks Hedda to give it to him so he can return it, but she confesses that she has burnt it “for George’s sake” and finally implies that she is pregnant to divert his outrage.
Thea enters, worried about Eilert after overhearing rumors. Brack enters soon after and reveals that Eilert has been taken to the hospital in critical condition after having shot himself in the heart at his lodgings that afternoon. Hedda is openly pleased with this news while everyone else is shocked. As they reckon with it, Thea and Tesman concoct a plan to honor Lovborg’s memory by rewriting his lost book by using the notes that Thea took while she helped him write the manuscript. George vows to dedicate his life to the task.
While they begin their work, Brack reveals to Hedda that Eilert did not shoot himself on purpose and that he is already dead. In fact, he had returned to Mademoiselle Diana’s in another attempt to retrieve the manuscript and, in a tussle, the gun misfired while in his pocket, shooting him in the bowels. Judge Brack found the pistol and immediately recognized it. He then blackmails Hedda, saying he will keep the identity of the weapon concealed and pin the crime on Mademoiselle Diana, as long as Hedda plays along and remains “in his power”.
Tesman and Thea re-enter from the other room, absorbed in the notes. Hedda leaves to lay down in the other room. George plans on having Thea stay in Aunt Rina’s old room at Aunt Julie’s, where George will visit every evening to work and Hedda won’t have to suffer the distressing work. Judge Brack promises to visit every single day to keep Hedda company. Just as Hedda responds to this, a gun goes off in the back room. George discovers that Hedda has shot herself in the head.