STANLEY BFL CANADA STAGE, ARTS CLUB THEATRE COMPANY: A DOLL’S HOUSE
By Henrik Ibsen
A New Version by Amy Herzog
Admittedly, I am not big into theatre performances and live shows, I don’t even like sitting down to start a movie. I blame it on my ADHD and the non-desire to sit still and pay attention to one thing. Even when I am home watching television I am doing at least one other thing, often that is writing for this blog.
But I digress, I decided to check out the new show at The Stanley Theatre, on South Granville, because I have never been into the theatre and thought this would be a good chance to and that maybe I had changed and liked theatre now. Especially given the description of the performance and my new foray in to the mental health profession.
As taken from the website, “With happy children, a pristine house, and a husband secure in a lucrative job, beautiful Nora Helmer appears to have it all. But a secret is bubbling under the surface that threatens to alter her reality. Witness Amy Herzog’s captivating adaptation breathe new life into Ibsen’s timeless tale of one woman’s struggle for self-actualization in a world bound by tradition.”
As with most experiences that I review, I try not to go into it with any preconceived notions, so don’t read the synopsis or recaps, and rather experience it blind to be able to be fully impacted by it. However, this might not have been the best decision given my confusion over the play’s storyline. Here, I felt I would have appreciated it more had a known what to expect, and had I walked in understanding the mechanics of it.
The following are my first blush impressions, as a non-theatre goer. We caught the first show on opening night, played out on the theatre’s new stage for their 63rd season.
This is a fairly old play from 1879, a domestic drama about a wife having to prevent a secret getting back to her husband. Originally it is 3 acts, but in this updated version it has been condensed it into 2, and equipped with more modern language.
I didn’t find any of the characters likeable or relatable. They did not grow or develop as the play progressed. Nor did they feel realistic, with over the top reactions at certain points and underwhelming responses at others. It was however, a good showcase of each actor’s skill. You got to see their range and their ability to get points across. They just weren’t playing dynamic characters.
Many folks in the audience were laughing, but I didn’t understand why. I questioned whether it was because they were reading the situation differently, or making it more lighthearted than intended. I interpreted it all as dramatic and traumatic, as the male character was a bit abusive to the female lead. I thought her codependent, so for her to switch at the end and suddenly advocate for herself out of the blue was inspiring. However, unrealistic, especially given my personal experience with that personality type.
I later had a friend explain it to me, as she herself played that role in such a play, and therefore understood the character. The way she described it is that the female lead weaponizes infantilism with first her father and now her husband. From one man to another, until it dawns on her that she needs to make a change to be herself, for herself. Perhaps if the play remained 3 acts the character development I was missing above would have been more obvious and natural then.
Spoiler: apparently as a classic, the ending was very controversial back then. As you didn’t often see a woman walking out on her husband and children, which is a sign of the times.
I however, did walk away from this, confused. In truth I was neither entertained nor did I learn a lesson with my viewership. Truthfully this form of media and entertainment is not something I enjoy. But I can and will recommend it for those who like live performances and their pieces to be serious and thought provoking. Not feel good, this wouldn’t have you leaving your seat laughing, but it will offer you something to reflect on.
Stanley BFL CANADA Stage, Arts Club Theatre Company
2750 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3J3
(604) 687-1644
artsclub.com
