Elskhug og Eksis

The historical comedy „Elskhug og Eksis“ takes place on the former parade ground next to the Eid river in Nordfjordeid. The comedy’s plot is based on the 17th of May in 1895 (national holiday in Norway). It was an eventful time in Norway and many local incidents connected to the parade ground.

The story is wrapped up in a demotic musical, highlighted with the perspective of the youth during that time. The union with Sweden and the way to the independence in 1905 remains the central theme running through Elskhug og Eksis. A bigger part of the players are historical persons, who had functions connected to the parade ground, or to the field surrounding the youth. In addition a few invented actors are interlaced into the musical.

The display of the pure Norwegian flag (without the integrated Swedish flag in the top left corner) is an important moment in the story, even if the union mark and diplomatic flag is still raised on the flagpole. The performance provides an insight into the milieu in Eid on May 17 in 1895. In the first scene youngsters  storm on the parade ground, eager to raise the pure Norwegian flag, for which they can be punished. The military area is of course subject to the union (flag). In the next scenes dramatic things happen with regard to the riotousness behavior of the youth. The recruits are also after romance, not only exercise…

The national holiday is an important event, and people prepare themselves. Only the fishwives have to take care of the (military’s) laundry as always, for them it is a usual working day – at least part of it.

With songs, music and dance the actors and musicians present the life on the parade ground in the 1890s. There you meet the hairdresser Vall Øyebakken and the photographer Andreas Røvde. The young girls, who dressed up for the celebration, are eternized. The music corps plays, the children are allowed to march with the old drummer Paul Paulson. The youth group rehearses songs and play for the Christian holiday of Pentecost in Sandane (neighboring town), and widely travelled visitors appear.

Amusement for children is arranged, the orchestra invites to dance, which was usual for May 17 in the Nordfjord towns. But some of the recruits are a bit more cheeky than others, and more drama is happening…

This national holiday is going to be special, especially because the independence comes closer!

So this is what I translated to English from the program under the rubric “content”. The Norwegian version wouldn’t have been of much help to you, I guess. I hope now you get a better impression of what Elskhug og Eksis is like, for me in any case a lot of fun. I play one of the fishwives together with Barbara and after one week of daily rehearsals, we finally had our first performance on Friday as well as the premiere party afterwards ;)

Everything went well so far, it was just a bit wet (it is raining for at least two weeks now – not exactly summer atmosphere), but it fitted to our role as fishwives anyway. Yesterday we had a wedding integrated into the historical comedy (a real wedding – the couple is actually married now) and today is the last performance. I am kind of happy to have my evenings back (the whole thing drags on a lot – from the dress up and make-up over the show and all the waiting till the actual end), nevertheless I will miss it too. It was definitely worth the experience. But I have to go now, the show starts earlier today :)

For those who want to catch a glimpse of Elskhug og Eksis (version from 2015, the current one is not online yet): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0DO4HVfb1o

Ha ein fin dag!

Alisa