Residents of Decorah and nearby communities can join Vesterheim’s free online discussion of Henrik Ibsen’s The Wild Duck from home on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. The Bokprat program is scheduled for 7 to 8:15 p.m. Central time and will center on conversation about the play rather than a staged performance.
Because the event will take place entirely online, participants will not need to travel to Vesterheim in Decorah. The format also gives people throughout the surrounding area a way to take part, including those who cannot attend an in-person museum program.
Registration required for the online program
Advance registration is required. Through Vesterheim’s event page, participants can sign up and add the program to Google Calendar, iCalendar, Outlook 365 or Outlook Live.
Those who register should return to the event page shortly before the discussion begins. Zoom access details may change, and the registration information may not include the newest instructions for entering the meeting. The event material does not provide a separate Zoom link, so participants should check the page again before the 7 p.m. start for the current meeting link and any other access information.
What the Bokprat group will discuss
First published in 1884, The Wild Duck follows the Ekdal family after its fragile peace is disrupted by Gregers Werle, an idealist determined to expose hidden truths. The play explores the relationship between an idealistic son and his corrupt merchant father.
As Werle attempts to rescue the people around him, his father’s duplicity comes to light. The effort ultimately harms the people Werle hopes to help and pushes the family toward a deeper unraveling. Those events provide a foundation for discussion about deception, betrayal and disillusionment in modern life.
The drama combines serious and comic elements through comedy and satire. Vesterheim describes the work as realistic, while literary scholars have also connected it with symbolism. The play is regarded as the first modern masterpiece in the tragicomedy genre, giving the group an opportunity to consider how humor, satire and tragedy can operate together.
Part of Vesterheim’s recurring Bokprat series
The October event is part of Vesterheim’s recurring online Bokprat book group, which focuses on Scandinavian authors and Scandinavian life. The museum announced the October selection in August 2026.
The discussion is free, but registration remains required. Readers interested in participating should sign up through Vesterheim’s event page and revisit it shortly before Oct. 28 to verify the latest Zoom information. The online format allows residents of Decorah and the surrounding area to join Vesterheim programming without leaving home.