A Doll’s House, Part 2 by Lucas Hnath is playing now through December 23rd at New Brunswick’s George Street Playhouse. This play ran on Broadway in 2017 and received eight Tony Awards Nominations and a Tony for Best Leading Actress Laurie Metcalf. The play is the story of what happened to Nora Helmer of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play A Doll’s House, as she returns to the house she left 15 years earlier. No prior knowledge of the original play is necessary. According to George Street Playhouse’s Artistic Director, David Saint, “This is a contemporary sequel and stands on its own as a fantastic comedy.”
Betsy Aidem directs this show which is a comedy, but there is a good amount of drama as the play unfolds. Ms. Aidem brings with her a strong acting background which may account for the way the play moves at such a fine pace. The well written dialogue helps bring the action to life to tell and develop the story. The show runs approximately 85 minutes with no intermission, but it does not lag at all.
The set is very basic. It is a bare bones room with the famous door Nora goes through when she leaves 15 years before and returns through in this show. The presence of such a sparse room allows the focus to remain on the actors as they move through the achievements and heartaches of their lives.
the play as a barometer of action
A Doll’s House, Part 2 has special appeal for anyone interested in the progress of women over the years. The original Ibsen play caused a sensation because it showed a woman who realized her marriage was a sham. She walks out on her husband and three children. So now, in this new contemporary play, Nora returns to the home she shared with her husband. She is first greeted by Anne Marie who helps take care of the household. She tells her of the success she has had making her way in the world as a woman alone earning her living as a writer. And as happened to other women who wrote in that time period, she represented herself as being male. Legal issues have come about and she needs to discuss them with Torvald.
What occurs in their discussions is surprising. It allows theater goers to see Nora, who is regarded as an early champion of better rights for women, to delve into the price she pays for what she gained. It also gives a good view into Torvald, and the price he did not pay. When information comes out about what he did to protect his own image in town, feelings of resentment arise. As a man in that society, he was able to come out on top and equality for both partners in the marriage does not exist.
With superb acting by Kellie Overbey as Nora and Andrew Garman as Torvald, we see the dynamics of a couple who were in a marriage with all the customs and expectations of that time period, late 1800’s. Without giving away too much, let it suffice to say that Torvald continued a style of behavior that drove Nora out. The resolution of what he did may surprise you and it may not. Casting also includes Ann McDonough as the outspoken Anne Marie and Lily Santiago as one of the couple’s three children who is a lovely and understanding woman.
In the end, we have answers to what Nora did during those 15 years. But we end up with new questions as to what her future will hold for her. Did Nora give in too quickly to Torvald because in the end, she didn’t really believe in herself? This is a question you might find yourself asking when you see this very fine production. A Doll’s House Part 2 gives theater goers something to sink their teeth into besides tasty cookies this holiday season.0000
For more information about the show or to purchase tickets, visit George Street Playhouse’s website.