The wild duck : A drama in five acts

In a comfortably furnished study belonging to a self‑made merchant, a modest household is about to be shaken by the unexpected arrival of an old friend. The scene introduces a proud businessman, his absent son returning home, and the weary former lieutenant Old Ekdal, whose presence hints at past debts and secret agreements. As servants bustle and polite conversation masks unease, the audience senses a fragile balance between wealth, respectability and the unresolved histories that bind the characters.

When Gregers Werle, the son driven by a fierce belief in honesty, learns of the Ekdal family’s quiet domestic life, he is drawn toward the mystery surrounding their modest home, where a captive wild duck has become an odd centerpiece. The drama gently probes whether exposing hidden truths will liberate or destroy those who cling to comforting myths. Listeners are invited to watch the delicate dance of conscience, pride, and compassion unfold in Ibsen’s finely crafted dialogue.