Cast of Seven Prepares for Production of “Hedda Gabler”
By Kayla Ellis, Staff Writer
The cast and crew of “Hedda Gabler” (Photo courtesy of Alex Sanchez)
For the first time in decades, Gettysburg College will be hosting a production of a Henrik Ibsen play. “Hedda Gabler” will be performed at the Kline Theater from Thursday, Feb. 23 to Sunday, Feb. 26.
With a cast of only seven people, the Norwegian drama is a distinct shift from the fall 2022 production of “Shakespeare in Love;” a robust romantic comedy that took place at the Majestic Theater.
Despite negative, preconceived notions about Ibsen’s work, Gettysburg’s theater department has created a “thrilling” production that “tells a story that a lot of people, especially women, can relate to even today,” said Eric Lippe ’24, who is also director of photography for The Gettysburgian.
After instructing the theater department for 12 years, Richard Sautter handpicked “Hedda Gabler” for his directorial debut at Gettysburg College, specifically for the way in which Ibsen’s writing can be felt by a modern audience.
Written in the 1800s, a constant theme of the play is the status of women. Sautter shared that the “themes of how men and women fit together in society still apply” despite decreasing strictness in gender roles today.
While Ibsen is a far stretch from the slapstick Shakespearian comedies of past Gettysburg productions, Sautter says that he and the cast have found opportunities for humor, “and we’re making good use of them,” despite the “gloomy” connotation of Ibsen’s work.
The preparation for “Hedda Gabler” has been an intimate process, which is evident during the rehearsals. Most of the actors have been active in the theater department for years and view “Hedda Gabler” as an integral part of their Gettysburg career.
“Being a part of such a small cast has been something that I hadn’t experienced yet,” said Alex Sanchez ’23. “It really helps make the show feel more personal to me.”
The effects of having so few members are distinctly felt, but the cast views their size as an asset.
“The last show we did had over 30 people,” shared Lippe, also noting that “the same number of people auditioned for both [productions].”
While the same number of people vied for roles in “Hedda Gabler” as they did in “Shakespeare in Love,” the former’s cast was chiseled down into the smallest group Sautter has ever directed.
“We have a really tight knit group and that is totally thanks to only having seven people,” Lippe said.
Libby Drew ’24 and Antoinette Chango ’24 both emphasized the benefits of the small scale of the production.
After being involved in both large and mid-sized shows, Chango said, “I’ve really enjoyed [“Hedda Gabler”] being so small,” noting that it’s “really fun” to work with people she knows so well.
Similarly, Drew shared that the smaller cast made the experience richer. “There’s more potential for us to bond and get to know each other better and that will translate on the stage,” she said.
