Elsk* (Love)
Elsk* (Love) by Barske Glæder Productions was based on Arne Garborg’s Haugtussa (The Hulder, not yet translated into English), an epic poetry cycle we usually connect to beautiful descriptions of love, nature and animal life.
Barske Glæder Productions wanted to raise the subject the poetry epos is really about: To choose to live as a whole person. They wanted to make Haugtussa available to a more modern audience with a stigmatic image of Garborg. Here, the focus laid on the message going as a red thread through large parts of his writing: You shall dare making your own choices.
*Not yet translated into English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.
Information
(Objekt ID 2460)| Object type | Production |
| Premiere | October 1, 2001 |
| Produced by | Barske Glæder Productions |
| Audience | Youth, Adults (from 16) |
| Language | Norwegian |
| Keywords | Theatre, Concert |
| Running period | October 1, 2001 |
| Website | Barske Glæder Produksjoner |
Requirements to venue
| Minimum stage width | 8m |
| Maximum stage width | 8m |
| Minimum stage depth | 4m |
| Maximum stage depth | 4m |
| Minimum stage height | 3m |
| Maximum stage height | 3m |
| Blackout | Yes |
| Rigging time | 180 minutes |
| Downrigging time | 60 minutes |
| Audience | 150 |
In Elsk Barske Glæder Productions created a rock’n roll concert with all its light and sound effects, with special composed music, but with the word as the focal point. A male and a female singer/actor with a four man rock band presented a special experience of Haugtussa.
"Å heller vil eg med augo sjå, enn dauv og blind gjennom verdi gå og ikkje det sanne skilja!"**
"I would rather with my eyes see Than going deaf and blind through the world Not sensing what is the truth!"**
Veslemøy is hoarding animals in a powerful landscape, in which she can see elves and trolls. Meeting Jon she experiences her first love. But Jon lets her down to marry the rich girl in the village. The subterranean people draw Veslemøy down to the underworld, where she is promised that all her dreams will come true, if she only gives in to the evil forces. One of the underworld creatures, Haugbukken, promises that Jon’s wife will die if Veslemøy marries him. Female trolls promise to make a love potion to win her Jon back. The king of the underworld, Haugkallen, promises eternal happiness if she becomes his queen. Veslemøy never wins Jon back, but she is, eventually, able to fight back the evil forces.
Elsk ble supported by the Garborg jubilee celebration Garborgåret 2001, the Fritt Ord Foundation, The Audio Visual Fund, The Fund for Performing Artists, the municipality of Oslo and The Norwegian Actors’ Equity Association.
Source: Barske Glæder Produksjoner, jannelangaas.no, 23.08.2010, http://www.jannelangaas.no/elsk.html
**From Haugtussa. The poetry cycle is not translated into English and the above quote is translated by Sceneweb’s Lillian Bikset.
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Janne Langaas | – Playwright |
| Janne Langaas | – Idea |
| Eirik Nilssen Brøyn | – Direction |
| Øyvin Kristiansen | – Musical direction |
| Svein Gundersen (musikk) | – Music |
| Janne Langaas | – Dramaturge |
| Svein Gundersen (musikk) | – Sound design |
| Janne Langaas | – Actor |
| Kjetil Dalland | – Musician (Bass) |
| Bjørn Charles Dreyer | – Musician (Gitar) |
| Øyvin Kristiansen | – Musician (Keyboard) |
| Karl Oluf Wennerberg | – Musician (Trommer) |
| Janne Langaas | – Producer |
| October 1, 2001 | Worldwide premiere |