MASTERPIECE THEATRE: HEDDA GABLER (TV)
Summary
One in this ongoing series of dramas presented under the umbrella of "Masterpiece Theatre." This program is a staged adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's 1891 play, recorded for television in Britain. Lead actress Fiona Shaw introduces the production, describing how director Deborah Warner has uniquely interpreted the character. The story begins as the scholarly Jörgen Tesman, just returned from an extended honeymoon, happily greets his Aunt Juliane, who congratulates him on his wedding to the popular Hedda. Jörgen reveals that he spent much of the honeymoon buried his work, and Juliane hints that she intends to help the couple financially until Jörgen is established in a new position, adding that "the person most dangerous to him" has recently published a new book. Hedda is clearly flustered by Juliane's presence in her new home, and Juliane is offended when Hedda "accidentally" mistakes her hat for the maid's. Jörgen, however, happily notes that his new bride has "filled out" during the honeymoon, suggesting that she is pregnant. When Juliane leaves, Jörgen requests that Hedda show his aunt a bit more affection, increasing her discomfort.
The couple is then surprised by a visit from Thea Elvstead, Jörgen's "old flame," and she anxiously reveals that Ejlert Løvbörg, her stepchildren's former tutor – and Jörgen's academic rival – is back in town. Hedda sits down with Thea and cajoles her to admit that she is desperately unhappy in her marriage and is secretly in love with Ejlert, though feels that a mysterious woman from his past, who apparently attempted to kill him, is standing in their way. Judge Brack then joins them, revealing that the alcoholic Ejlert is "steady again" and has written an excellent book, and reminds Jörgen about his bachelor party that night. When Jörgen suggests inviting Ejlert, however, Brack admits that Ejlert is also up for the academic position that Jörgen so desires. Bored, Hedda begins playing with her pistols, and when Brack later returns, she tells him about her unsatisfying honeymoon and he pointedly suggests that they need a third person in their lives to keep things interesting. She tells him about the faux pas with Juliane's hat and admits that she has never truly been in love with Jörgen, and though she hopes that he will someday have a successful career in politics, Brack points out that the mild-mannered Jörgen is ill-suited for the field.
Ejlert soon arrives at the house, eager to share his new book with his colleagues, but Jörgen explains about Brack's party and Hedda quickly invites Ejlert to dine with her and Thea instead. Jörgen is greatly relieved when Ejlert assures him that he does not intend to take the job after all, though when left alone with Hedda, Jörgen demands to know why she has "thrown herself away" on a loveless marriage. Hedda admits that she misses her "secret friendship" with Ejlert but could never allow it to become serious, and Ejlert accuses her of cowardice while dismissing his new "friend" Thea as unintelligent. When Thea joins them, however, Ejlert praises her smarts and courage, and Hedda embarrasses them both by revealing Thea's anxious confession to her from that morning and hinting that Ejlert is too "afraid" to join the men's party. Ejlert takes the bait and begins drinking again before heading out with Jörgen and Brack after all, and Thea begins to panic in the early hours of the morning when she realizes that the men have not yet returned. Jörgen finally arrives and tells Hedda about the stag night, describing his "detestable feeling" when Ejlert began reading his book, and then reveals that he has taken Ejlert's sole manuscript, which he dropped on the road in his drunken state.
Jörgen then learns that his aunt Rina, Juliane's sister, is dying, though Hedda refuses to accompany him to visit her. Brack arrives and reveals that Ejlert spent the night in the company of an infamous "singer" and was then arrested after claiming to have been robbed. He adds that Ejlert will now be shunned from polite society and orders Hedda not to accept him back into her home, making it clear that he himself will be the third party in her domestic "triangle." Hedda grows increasingly distraught as Ejlert staggers in and abruptly severs ties with Thea, though she refuses to accept his words. He lies to her that he has destroyed "their" book by hand, and she likens his actions to murdering their baby before leaving in despair. Ejlert admits to Hedda that he actually lost the "child," and Hedda, rather than revealing that the manuscript is safe in her possession, urges on his suicidal thoughts, telling him that it must be "done beautifully." She gives him one of her pistols and a passionate kiss before he departs, and she descends further into madness as she burns his manuscript as a form of revenge. Jörgen returns and, worried about his friend Ejlert, is horrified to hear of Hedda's actions, though she declares that she did it to assuage his own professional jealousy.
Thea arrives and frets over Ejlert's unknown fate, and Brack then informs them all that Ejlert is in the hospital, slowly dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. Everyone else is offended when Hedda dreamily comments that there is "an element of beauty" to Ejlert's actions, and Thea and Jörgen frantically attempt to reassemble the destroyed manuscript by using Ejlert's notes. Brack speaks to Hedda privately and, aware of her emotional connection to Ejlert, coldly reveals that he is actually already dead, having accidentally shot himself through the bowels while in the singer's boudoir, and Hedda is disgusted by the inelegant nature of his demise. Brack then adds that he knows that the pistol in question was actually Hedda's and intends to blackmail her with the secret, knowing of her great fear of public scandal. Hedda realizes that she is "at his mercy," and as an oblivious Thea and Jörgen continue poring over Ejlert's papers, Hedda leaves the room and fatally shoots herself with another of her pistols. Shocked, Brack can only declare that "people don't do such things."
Details
- NETWORK: PBS
- DATE: March 28, 1993 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:56:41
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:76659
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Marriage
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV, 1993
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rebecca Eaton … Executive Producer
- Simon Curtis … Producer
- June Collins … Associate Producer
- Deborah Warner … Director
- Henrik Ibsen … Writer
- Una Ellis-Fermor … Translated by
- Per Nørgård … Music by
- Fiona Shaw … Cast, Hedda Gabler
- Nicholas Woodeson … Cast, Jörgen Tesman
- Pat Leavy … Cast, Juliane Tesman
- Susan Colverd … Cast, Berte
- Bríd Brennan … Cast, Thea Elvsted
- Donal McCann … Cast, Judge Brack
- Stephen Rea … Cast, Ejlert Løvbörg