Ibsen goes dark, and deep | The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah theater • Brigham Young University's theater department takes on one of the last works by the father of modern theater.

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Many modern theater fans believe the stage dramas of Henrik Ibsen, himself the grandaddy of modern theater, became better with time. If not better, they certainly became darker.

With "Little Eyolf," a 1894 play that's third-to-last in his oeuvre, the master delved deep into both family tragedy and almost fable-like elements of Norwegian folklore. The plot circles around the Allmer family, with father Alfred about to abandon his plans for a book in favor of raising son Eyolf, a crippled little boy whom few are sure might live a normal life. When the family opens its door to a mysterious Rat-Wife capable of lulling rodents into the sea, followed by an engineer who fancies daughter Asta, all manner of guilt, resentment and sorrow follow, but so does the chance that the family might find some form of redemption.

This production by the Brigham Young University department of theater and media arts is directed by Barta Heiner, and features a translation by Eric Samuelsen, Utah's own resident Ibsen scholar.

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Henrik Ibsen's "Little Eyolf" at BYU

When • Feb. 29-March 10, 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees March 3 and 10.

Where • Brigham Young University Harris Fine Arts Center, University Avenue and Center Street, Provo.

Tickets • $14-$6. Recommended for ages 12 and above. Call 801-422-7323 or visit http://arts.byu.edu/calendar for more information. —

Henrik Ibsen's "Little Eyolf" at BYU

When • Feb. 29-March 10, 7:30 p.m. with 2 p.m. matinees March 3 and 10.

Where • Brigham Young University Harris Fine Arts Center, University Avenue and Center Street, Provo.

Tickets • $14-$6. Recommended for ages 12 and above. Call 801-422-7323 or visit http://arts.byu.edu/calendar for more information.