When one hears about a play focused around Victorian morality, the first thought that comes to mind is usually not shock and scandal.
However, starting April 19, the Baker University senior capstone production of “Ghosts” will bring scandal to the stage of Darby-Hope Theatre. The play, written by Henrik Ibsen in 1881, shocked the general public with its mention of such taboo topics as familial strain and venereal disease.
Freshman Olivia Hernandez said the groundbreaking content within the play is what has made being a part of the production especially meaningful to her.
“This play really isn’t a surface-level play,” Hernandez said. “If you know you are coming to see a Victorian play, you will really see something you didn’t expect. You get a real sense of reality. … It does open people’s eyes to how life is really hard for some people.”
Still, Hernandez said the play has strong redeeming qualities.
“Maybe it is not the most uplifting and inspiring message, but I think people can relate to more than one character in this play,” Hernandez said.
Senior Tracy Fischer said she’s learned a lesson working on the production.
“It is basically circling around a family and how lies we tell ourselves and tell others reflects who we are,” Fischer said. “It talks about the hypocrisy of religion and society. … Out of the play, the lesson I’ve learned is to be more honest and open about what I think. That makes you more of a real person than just another face.”
Fischer said the members of the cast have done a good job developing honest characters.
“They are really taking a grasp of each character in the play,” Fischer said. “With each character, they are building them up to be real people.”
Hernandez said she benefited from developing one of the rich characters in Ibsen’s progressive script.
“I like her sense of independence and her ability to stand in a society and what society considered proper,” Hernandez said. “There really is a strong message when you are performing a play about Victorian morality. It is important to have a character like that. Ibsen had a true respect for women, and she stands out in her own right.”
Freshman Bob Linebarger said the play has been a challenge for him because his acting experience has been in humorous productions.
“In high school I was always type-casted as the comic relief,” Linebarger said. “So this has been hard because I’ve never done (serious) acting before. You have to start somewhere. It is stressful, but it definitely pays off. … It is a historical play. He wrote this when venereal diseases weren’t even talked about. You see a lot about relationships and a sense of what they were like at that time. It is not too far off from right now. It’s serious, so don’t just come for laughs.”
“Ghosts” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. April 19 through April 21 and April 26 through April 28 in Darby-Hope Theatre.