Some Older Plays

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31754, 10 August 1968, Page 4

Some Older Plays

The Master Builder. By Henrik Ibsen. Methuen.

11l pp. The Wild Duck. By Henrik Ibsen. Methuen. 128 pp. The Government Inspector. By Nikolai Gogol. 107 pp.

By 1883, when he wrote “The Wild Duck,” Ibsen had experienced the extremes of fortune and ill-luck. The poverty and despair of the early 1860 s suddenly vanished with the immense popularity of the verse plays “Brand” and "Peer Gynt,” and he had a long run of success which culminated in “A Doll’s House” (1879). But then came the catastrophe Of “Ghosts”: the critics attacked it viciously, and booksellers returned it to the publisher. When he planned "The Wild Duck,” Ibsen was keen to placate his audience. He knew that “an intellectual PERIODICAL

Frontiers Vol. 1 No. 2 (June, 1968). Edited by David Prescott. 32 pp.

The cosmopolitan nature of Frontier I is not as apparent in this second issue: apart from two poems by Americans, all the writers live in New Zealand. Max Richards’s “The Roof” is a confusing play to read because of the absence of names, but the inclusion of the whole script as a feature of this issue fortunately coincided with the recent production of the play. Richard Brooke’s prose lyric in search of “a wistful Satan” disintegrates into something like the reminiscences of the Delphic oracle because of a dominating concern for complexity and sagacity. Louis Johnson is at his best when writing love poetry, and John Casserley on the dance is forceful, but vague.

pioneer can never gather a majority about him,” but he also seems to have deplored the apparent failure of the earlier romantics who lost contact with their readers. Speculating about “The Wild Duck,” Ibsen said, “I dare say it will arouse some discussion, but it cannot offend anyone.” This proved true: his later plays (including “The Master Builder”) were received with bewilderment, but nevertheless sold well.

Michael Meyer’s translations (of both plays) read surprisingly well, considering the immense difficulties involved.

As with “Dead Souls,” Gogol frequently changed his mind about what he was trying to do in writing “The Government Inspector,” and the 1842 version could hardly be described as polished. Modern producers are mostly forced to make politic cuts for the purpose of smoothness, and sometimes also textual additions. This translation, by Edward Marsh and Jeremy Brooks, brackets the cuts made in the 1966 Aldwych production, but includes (clearly indicated) only one of the additions. The text reads easily, although with a suspicion of modernism. The Methuen Theatre Classics series contain short introductions, and most are available in both paperback and cloth binding. They are suitable for use as sixth form texts.

On the eve of his retirement the Chief Justice of the United States, Earl Warren, has delivered an agreeable summing-up on newspapers. “I always turn to the sports section first,” he says. “The sports page records people’s accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man’s failures.”

A paperback edition of Sheila Macqueen’s “Flower Decoration in Churches” has .been issued by Faber and Faber. A hardback edition Of this book was first published in 1964. Mrs Macqueen’s book deals with every aspect of flower decoration in church and gives advice about seasonal decorations, festivals, weddings, christenings, and funerals. The author gives advice also abbut equipment that should be kept in vestry cupboards, such as vases, suitable pot* and dishes, and about growing plants specially for church decoration. Mrs Macqueen’s handy little book will be invaluable to workers who love to help to beautify their churches with flowers aadfoliaga.