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Inside the life of Henrik Ibsen
THE MASTER BUILDER
Pentameters
THIS strongly autobiographical account of Henrik Ibsen’s The Master Builder marks the playwright’s move away from social realism and into a more symbolist form of drama.
Its protagonist Halvard Solness (Harry Meacher) is not simply an architect, as he lacks the qualifications, but a “master builder”, or creator.
Meacher’s confident performance draws us in making us despise Solness for all his lecherousness and immorality.
Solness is no longer young. He is a nasty bully, mainly because he fears that he will be pushed aside by the younger generation of architects, who he wishes to suppress. However, he likes youth in the form of young girls, much like Ibsen did. After Ibsen’s death, letters he exchanged with a young Austrian girl, Emilie Bardach, were published. They indicated that there had been a relationship between Ibsen, then aged 61, and Emilie, 18.
It could be that the character of Hilde Wangel (Saskia Willis), a girl who turns up on Solness’ doorstep is based on her.
In the play, Hilde appeals to Solness’ ego, flirtatiously egging him on to climb a high tower which he has just finished building.
Solness, full of bravado, concedes, but to his own demise.
Until June 30
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