Forward

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Synopsis:

Forward presents a poetic and humorous history of Norway, from the initial passion that drove explorer Fridtjof Nansen to the North Pole to our present-day anxiety over the rapidly changing climate. Woven through this history is the passionate love affair between Nansen and the character Ice. A blend of theatre, opera, and electropop music, the play progresses backwards from 2017 to 1893 and zeroes in on 40+ characters whose choices have unintended consequences that ripple through the generations.

Characters:

ICE – A lover and warrior
FRIDTJOF NANSEN (thirties) – A Norwegian Arctic explorer
EVA NANSEN (thirties) – Nansen’s wife, an opera singer
SVERDRUP (twenties) – The Fram’s captain
JOHANSEN (thirties) – The Fram’s stoker
FEMALE ENSEMBLE (twenties to thirties) – Crew 1, Kristina, Tonje, Daughter, Farmer 2, Laila, Liv, Girl, Friend
FEMALE ENSEMBLE (thirties to forties) – Crew 2, Hanne, Woman, Dr. Andersen, Mother, Farmer 1, Kaja, Sigrun, Astrid
MALE ENSEMBLE (twenties to thirties) – Crew 4, Dr. Brown, Skier 2, Vegard, Father, Erik, Herr Sunde, Whaler 1
MALE ENSEMBLE (thirties to forties) – Crew 3, Blind Man, Skier 1, Son, Jan, Ingvar, Boy, Herr Landvik, Whaler 2, Sailor

First Produced:

Kansas State University

Resources:

Play can be accessed through https://talonbooks.com/books/forward

Notes:

The actors playing Ice and Eva must be singers.