Capital University News, California State University, Sacramento
October 25, 2004
The Lady from the Sea comes ashore
at Sacramento State
It’s a second marriage. Ellida Wangel loves her husband,
a doctor, but her past promise to a now-lost sailor haunts her. Dr. Wangel returns
her love, and strives to make her happy, even as his daughters’ resentment
toward their step-mother builds and her adopted town looks harshly upon her. She
feels trapped, landlocked, and suffocated by him, separated from the open sea.
Sarah Penney, left, Allan Wilson and Aaron Farley, cast members of The
Lady from the Sea
Thus opens Henrik Ibsen’s compelling tale of a storm-tossed
love triangle The Lady from the Sea, set to take the stage at California
State University, Sacramento in a special free preview at 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov.
4 in the University Theatre. Regular performances continue at 8 p.m., Nov. 5,
6 and 11 to 13 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 6, 7 and 14.
Directed by Sacramento State professor Paul Besaw, Ibsen’s 1888 drama explores
the misunderstood Ellida Wangel, the “lady from the sea.” When her
past comes upon her in the unexpected return of her former love, she is left to
struggle for independence. Embedded in the story are an array of characters and
subplots that demonstrate Ibsen’s capacity for humor while exploring the
struggle of women against late 19th century social conventions.
The Sacramento State staging of the play will include a women’s chorus similar
to that used in ancient Greek theater, an addition developed by Besaw to serve
as an aural backdrop to the onstage action. The chorus, and a score of Norwegian
folk music, are a constant accompaniment to Ellida’s interactions with her
imposing surroundings.
Tickets are $15 general, $8 for students and seniors, and available from the CSUS
Ticket Office at (916) 278-4323 or Tickets.com. For more information, call (916)
278-6702. Media assistance is available from public affairs at (916) 278-6156.
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California State University, Sacramento • Public Affairs
6000 J Street • Sacramento, CA 95819-6026 • (916) 278-6156 •
infodesk@csus.edu
California State University, Sacramento • Public Affairs
6000 J Street • Sacramento, CA 95819-6026 • (916) 278-6156 • infodesk@csus.edu
