Hedda Gabler: The Critics Hate Her

Host Richard Pyatt talks to Ted Van Griethuysen and Aldo Bonura - both actors, directors, and educators - about a production of the Henrik Ibsen's play "Hedda Gabler" performed by the Opposites Company at the Actors Playhouse. Van Griethuysen is the director of the production and Bonura acts the part of Judge Brack.

They discuss the unfavorable critical reception of the play as published in the New York Times and their grassroots effort to petition the New York Times to print letters that provided a counterpoint to the reviews. Van Griethuysen also hosted an event "Look Forward in Anger a Symposium: An Attack on Ibsen, Truth & Aesthetic Realism," to debate the poor critical reception to the play and its alignment with Aesthetic Realism, a philosophy taught by poet Eli Siegel.

Van Griethuysen speculates that the theater critics from the New York Times dismissed Aesthetic Realism as a "village cult" and deliberately attempted to shut down the play because they were afraid to learn something new.

Pyatt reflects on the ability of the Opposites Company to effect change through protest when, "the world is falling apart all around us all, or is seemingly falling apart." Bonura asserts that there is a necessary connection to this protest and other protests of the day such as the anti-war movement.

Pyatt concludes the recording by asking Van Griethuysen to define the term "Aesthetic Realism" and the opposition to it.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 151298
Municipal archives id: T7418