Not a skirt is to be seen in “Kristin Lavransdotter” at the Norwegian Theatre. But the foresight trembles with what is sensuous and sacred: Love, earth and blood. This year marks 100 years since Sigrid Undset released the last volume in the trilogy about Kristin Lavransdotter, the wild, God-fearing and headstrong girl from Gudbrandsdalen. SCARY: As a young girl, Kristin reflects in the water, a frightening experience for the young girl, because behind her are the underground people waiting. As a grown woman, she reflects on herself. Now she knows more about life. Photo: THE NORWEGIAN THEATER When the story now becomes marathon theater under the direction of Kjersti Horn, there is not much middle age to be seen. No swords, lafta timber, crown of brides or woven wool. With that, the feelings, urges and the wildest, deepest human desire take their place and unfold in a foresight where life is lived right up to the breaking point. LONG AND EXPLOSIVE: Kristin’s passion is strong. It plays out both in merchandise and explosive scenes. Photo: THE NORWEGIAN THEATER Middle age on screen But it is not the case that Horn has peeled the middle age away completely. In costume and visuals: yes. But she has taken another, well-known Horn move that is as middle-aged as you get. She allows video director Mads Sjøgård Pettersen to follow Kristin with a camera throughout the screening so that the audience sees close-ups on the three large screens. CLOSE UP: The big screens let the audience get close to Kristin and Erlend. Photo: THE NORWEGIAN THEATER It has been said about the Middle Ages that man was small in the grand scheme of things, subject to various lords and a distant deity towering over him. The mere fact that the church’s language was Latin, which few ordinary people knew, helped to create a feeling of being just a small grain of sand on a beach. With this perspective, under this big sky, people lived their lives. Then it harkens back to the little story Kristin heard as a little girl. About a white stone on the bottom of the sea: Actually, an example of how God looks at the poor, wretched man. But here also an artistic move. The camera zooms in and allows the individual’s life to be magnified and lifted up. This is how the audience sits, far from middle age, and alternates between watching the little people on stage act out their lives and seeing them up close and personal on the screens. You look at them, and you love them. Villjenta Now it is not the case that Kristin Lavransdotter is particularly frail. One has to look for a wilder and more passionate woman in Norwegian literature for a long time. TRULOVA: Simon Darre (Kristoffer Olsen) and Kristin (Sara Khorami) were engaged. But she wants him gone, she would rather have Erlend. They both follow that choice throughout the vision. Photo: THE NORWEGIAN THEATER Sigrid Undset thought there was too little lived life in literature, and wrote in strong, feminine experiences with Kristin. It has hardly been harder to give birth in Norwegian literature, hardly more chest-bursting, and, 100 years ago, hardly more trembling longing than the one Kristin has for Erlend. Putting Sara Khorami in this role fits like a glove. In her, all of Kristin’s feelings well up through the three parts “The Wreath”, “Housewife” and “The Cross”. She loves, gives birth, cries and rages incessantly. It’s a wonderful interpretation of the role. Almost perfect. BRILLIANT: Sara Khorami plays a brilliant role as Kristin Lavransdotter. Photo: THE NORWEGIAN THEATER Tiresome and wonderful There is much to say about this three-in-one performance, and much that there is no space to say. Eight to nine hours in the theater is an extensive experience, exhausting and fantastic. It can be exhausting, but rarely boring. With a packed lunch, water and good coffee, you are safe. As is often the case when Horn does big projects, it slipped a bit towards the end. The third part was quite unfinished at the premiere. But in sum, the foresight is uncompromising and absolutely fantastic. The ensemble does a very good job. It will take the time it takes, you just have to tolerate it. There is a lot of life to be lived, a lot of longings and body, a lot of childbirth (Kristin had eight children). There is dirt and blood in buckets upon buckets across a plastic-covered stage: this is the dirty and holy life. BLOODY: Earth, blood, violence and plastic. Great forces play out in the medieval story of Kristin Lavransdotter. Here Preben Hodneland as Erlend Nikolaussønn. Photo: DET NORSKE TEATRET Live-stream time capsule A plastic screen separates the stage from the audience – as if they are playing in a kind of time capsule. The video clip, with Kristin and her life so far away and yet so close, pointed the finger at both the Middle Ages and the present. On our live streams, the state where everything happens online now, and at the same time life in the 14th century where everything was at stake for the poor man under the big sky. TROYSTER: Ane Dahl Torp as mother Ragnfrid and Ina Svenningdal as Kristin’s stepsister Ramborg. Photo: THE NORWEGIAN THEATER A foresight like this cannot take place without great faith that making mistakes and mistakes is wise, that one has found a kind of safety in that. This is how Kjersti Horn has always worked – make or break. When Horn and the shoe players get to swing around and the last part of the vision is also nailed down, “Kristin Lavransdotter” will still stand as the greatest thing Horn has done – until now. And after all her trial, error and triumphs throughout, that’s saying nothing. news reviews Title: “Kristin Lavransdotter” City: Det Norske Teatret Date: 10 September–29. December Duration: 8 hours or 3 x 2.5 hours Dramatization: Kjersti Horn and Kristian Lykkeslet Strømskag Production: Gunnhild Øyehaug Director: Kjersti Horn Scenographer and costume designer: Sven Haraldsson Video director and camera operator: Mads Sjøgård Pettersen Lighting designer: Torkel Skjærven Sound designer: Erik Hedin Assistant sound designer: Tobias Pfeil Playwright: Ingrid Weme Nilsen Cast: Sara Khorami, Preben Hodneland, Ane Dahl Torp, Jon Bleiklie Devik, Joachim Rafaelsen, Kristoffer Olsen, Heidi Gjermundsen Broch, Frode Winther, Kaia Varjord, Ina Svenningsdal, Mathias Stoltenberg KRISTIN LAVRANSDATTER PÅ EITT MINUTE: Watch the clip from the TV series “Brenner’s Bookshelf”. ABOUT SIGRID UNDSET IN THE “BOOK PROGRAM”: Many believe that Sigrid Undset is Norway’s greatest author. But has she been given the place in literary history that she deserves here in Norway? The “book programme” went to New Mexico and New York in the USA to talk to marketers and publishers about Sigrid Undset. (From 2013)
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“Kristin Lavransdotter” at the Norwegian Theater – Reviews and recommendations
