Going into the theatre this was not the play I was prepared to see, that being said I was pleasantly surprised by the modern adaptation of “A Doll’s House.” The adaptation took a more raunchy type of tone to the play and made you have to look and think more to see the “caged bird” experience that Nora was experiencing.
The best part of the play showing Nora in a restrictive experience was the sexy nurse dress she wore to the party and when she was dancing for Torvald. The experience of watching her wear the outfit and dance for him makes the audience super uncomfortable and at first I couldn’t really understand why I was feeling uncomfortable because this is a normal thing that couples do. The more I thought about I realized it’s a statement of the sexualization she is experiencing (along with many other women) and realizing the only times I ever really watched Torvald be affectionate towards Nora was when he was sexualizing her, making her only an object to touch and admire and not giving her much other substance. She talks about her appearance a good amount throughout the play, hinting at the importance and even using it to her advantage to reiterate my statement.
There’s a few parts throughout the show where the music turns on, there’s no one talking, and people are walking around while Nora is staring at objects (usually the baby monitor). The lighting is spotlighting her with darkness or dark blue light surrounding her making her distressed, depressed face a vivid visual. This part of play shows her internal feelings that aren’t shown through her extravagant, lively outside appearance. I think it’s a beautiful portrayal of using actions and visuals instead of dialogue to show that closed in, caged bird feeling she can’t show on the outside and is having a hard time admitting to herself.
I will say what might be a controversial take that this modern version of Nora isn’t as much of a “caged bird” as the original. When you think about how this is based in current time, Nora has resources to get away if she wanted to and had a college degree and a right to get a job and start a life for herself. She was a good amount at fault for the amount of money she had put them in debt for and how she did it and seemed to kind of throw that to side and not really want to take accountability for it (what I mean is only deciding that suicide was the only option when she got caught and blaming him for it.)
Overall I really enjoyed the play. It made me laugh, panic, and feel bad for all the characters at some point. I personally didn’t end up liking really any of the characters and thought they all had faults but also feel that’s what makes the play so human because if people watched our deepest, darkest secrets on stage they probably wouldn’t feel very fond of us either. The actors were amazing and I thought the set was simple yet purposeful. I would definitely go see that again. The plays that make you think deeply and leave feeling differently than when you came are my favorite.
Theatre in London U of A 