Gertrud (play)

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Gertrud is a Swedish 1906 play (drama), in three parts, by author and playwright Hjalmar Söderberg.

1 Story description
2 Characters
3 From play
4 Notable productions
5 Film adaption

[edit] Story description

The play is a modern relationship drama (often mentioned as one of the very best Swedish plays ever written) with the middle-age Gertrud in the centre and about her relationships with three men; her husband Gustav Kanning (a politician), her older, former lover Gabriel Lidman (a business man) and her new found love Erland Jansson (a young concert pianist). The first act is set in Gustaf Kanning's office at home where Gertrud awaits his return from work as she has something to tell: she's going to leave him. How will Kanning react to this? How will her former love interest - who suddenly returns from a long trip overseas - react? Is her new found love worth the sacrifice she is about to make?

The play is a penetrating drama on life, love and passion. About the feeling of being trapped and confined in a marriage, the need of love and the search of THE LOVE; but does it exist? How does it show itself and what is real love anyway? It's also a play about how we all value love and closeness in a relationship - and the need and importance of it in our lives - so completely different.

The original production in Sweden premiered on February 13 1907 at the old Royal Dramatic Theatre featuring Gerda Lundequist in the title role.

[edit] Characters

Gertrud Kanning
Gustav Kanning
Gabriel Lidman
Erland Jansson
Kanning's mother
The White Shape

[edit] From play

Look a little at me.

Am I beautiful?

No.

But I have loved.

Look a little at me.

Am I young?

No.

But I have loved.

Look a little at me.

Am I alive?

No.

But I have loved.

(The White Shape, Act II)

"I believe in the lust of the flesh and the incurable desolation of the soul." (Gertrud reminding Lidman of the words he once uttered to her).

"And it didn't cost you a thing to tell me this? It was easy and simple? Like cancelling a show..." (Kanning to Gertrud)

"You are not a real woman. A woman should lie and smile and caress. Yes, caress - and you know how. But you do it for your own pleasure. And you know it! That is not for a woman to know." (Jansson to Gertrud)

KANNING: It doesn't sound as if you loved her that particularly much, your... wife.

LIDMAN: Love? - Nonsense.

[edit] Notable productions

The original 1908 staging with Gerda Lundequist as Gertrud, the Royal Dramatic Theatre.
The 1953 Dramaten-staging with Eva Dahlbeck as Gertrud, Holger Löwenadler as Kanning, Anders Henrikson as Lidman and Gunnar Hellström as Erland Jansson.
The 1999 TV-theatre adaption (SVT) with Marie Richardson as Gertrud, Krister Henriksson as Gabriel Lidman, Johan Rabaeus as Kanning and Mona Malm as Kanning's mother.