Polina Shafran & Beth Tantanella in A Doll’s House. Photo by Jasmine Jones.

A Doll’s House

By Henrik Ibsen
Directed by Martin French

Review by Kate Barry

Entire contents are copyright © 2017 Kate Barry. All rights reserved.

If you’re a feminist like me there are certain works you have read through the years: “The Yellow Wallpaper”, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, “The Bell Jar”, by Sylvia Plath, and of course, Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. A staple in both the feminist and modernist canon, the play dives into expectations, relationships, and interactions between men and women. The Chamber Theater has mounted a fascinating and bold production of Ibsen’s work that shines particularly bright in the, “nevertheless she persisted” world we have found ourselves in today.

A subtle but ever present choice is the concept of clashing aesthetic within this production, where men dress in modern day suit and tie while carrying cell phones, the women wear high-waist long skirts and broaches. This contemporary versus late 19th century stylistic clash emphasizes the out-of-date expectations Torvald, Dr. Rank, and Krogstad place on Nora and the other female characters. This production does well to display that the men within this Doll House are of a power hungry era while the women are expected to remain in a time of submission and, literally, sit at home with their baubles and toys.

Polina Shafran delivers a strong performance as Nora. With pet names, allowances, and trivial matters, Shafran’s Nora first appears as a delusional child but fully transforms into a strong woman looking for something more through conflict and choice. Brian Hinds’ Torvald is incredibly infuriating to watch, which is to say his performance was spot on. Hinds taps into Torvald’s man-splaining, condescension and degradation with so much ease that you cannot help but root for Nora as she leaves him behind. As Krogstad, Gerry Rose is intimidating and still in his confrontations with Nora. Rose and Shafran, who I had the pleasure of watching in the Chamber Theatre’s premiere production of Chek-Mate, share a fierce chemistry that is very captivating to watch and works well within Ibsen’s piece.

Joe Monroe, Beth Tantanella and Jay Marie Padilla give solid performances as well. Monroe shows great likability as the lovesick and terminally ill Dr. Rank. Tantanella’s Christina is a woman trapped inside society’s expectation who longs for a more fulfilling life. As Marie, a servant in Torvald’s house, Padilla’s quiet and deadpan presence onstage speaks for the audience with every eye roll and every frustrated exit as she watches Nora’s behavior.

Nora slowly changes her mind about the men who controlled her, yet she daringly walks out on the life she had made as well as the expectations that had been placed on her. I waited in great anticipation for the famous door slam that defined and changed theater. In this case, Nora’s door closes on the patriarchy and opens to a world of possibility.

Featuring: Polina Shafran, Brian Hinds, Gerry Rose, Joe Monroe, Beth Tantanella, Jay Marie Padilla

A Dolls House

Performances on March 17, 18, 20*, 23, 24, 25
Tickets $15
Seniors / Military / Students $12
* Industry Night – all tickets $12 on the door
Special post show events after Monday and Thursday performances – see below.

For tickets go to:
tickets.thechambertheatre.com
Call: 502-7246968
Or email us: thechambertheatre@gmail.com

The Chamber Theater
At Vault 1031
1031 South Sixth Street
Louisville, KY 40203

 

Kate BarryKate Barry earned her Bachelors in English with a Theater minor from Bellarmine University in 2008. She has worked with many different companies around town including Kentucky Shakespeare Festival, Bunbury Theater, Louisville Repertory Company, Walden Theater, Finnigan Productions and you have probably purchased tickets from her at that little performing arts center on Main Street as well. In 2012, her short play “PlayList” won festival favorite in the Finnigan Festival of Funky Fresh Fun. She has written for LEO Weekly and TheatreLouisville.com as well. Thanks for reading!