I never managed to write a blog for International Women’s Day.  But thinking about that day triggers memories of a soiree I created in The Eagle and the Tiger, a play I wrote about Ibsen and his wife Suzannah.  The play itself is a fusion of the present and memory as it deals with their relationship, and the soiree combines their history—they did indeed host soirees—with fantasy.  In my play, to the soiree they have invited four guests, who actually are characters from four of his plays:

NARRATOR

For this soirée now we must set the scene,
And introduce the characters, between
Whom there is, as yet, no real relation.
First, Judge Brack, forty, with “reputation”;
Followed by Falk, a young feisty poet;
Then Ibsen and Suzannah bring for it
A pianist, Selma, young and demure,
Followed by Rebecca West, far more sure.

Given that Judge Brack is the predator in Hedda Gabler, Falk is a main character in Love’s Comedy, Selma in The League of Youth, and Rebecca the tragic heroine in Rosmersholm, it should be an interesting evening. We’ll find out in the next blog.