Posts Tagged ‘a doll’s house’

Local Actors’ Shine in STLAS’s Provocative “Doll’s House pt 2”

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , on February 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A Doll’s House, Part 2
by Lucas Hnath
Directed by Kelley Weber
St. Louis Actors’ Studio
February 8, 2026

Teresa Doggett, Julie Layton
Photo by Patrick Huber
St. Louis Actors’ Studio

St. Louis Actors’ Studio’s very name features two elements that are especially prominent in the casting of their latest production, Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House, Part 2, directed by Kelley Weber. Those elements are “actors” and “St. Louis”, considering the entire cast is made up of notable performers known for their work on the St. Louis stage, and their acting is highlighted particularly well here, in this contemporary sequel to the much performed, talked about, and studied Henrik Ibsen classic, A Doll’s House. Although all the elements of this production are strong, the acting is the highlight, bringing much insight into the characters, their situations, and the issues that this play and its earlier source have raised. 

Nora Helmer (Julie Layton) is famous in dramatic history for walking out a door at the end of A Doll’s House, into an uncertain future for the character and lots of discussion and debate for audiences, readers, and scholars over the last century and a half. This play explores the idea of what would happen if Nora came back, and what effect her return would have on those most impacted by her exit, including her husband, bank manager Torvald (Michael James Reed), and her daughter, Emmy (Claire Coffey), who was a very young child when Nora left. Now, it’s 15 years later, Emmy has grown up and has goals of her own, and Torvald is still feeling the effects of Nora’s exit. There’s also Anne Marie (Teresa Doggett), the Helmers’ housekeeper, who practically raised Nora and, subsequently, Nora’s children. Nora, who has an urgent reason to see Torvald, is hoping to deal with matters quickly and return to the new life she’s built in her time away, but she’s not entirely  ready for the reaction she receives upon her return. Even though she wasn’t expecting a warm welcome, what she does receive is the realization of the impact of her decision, upon her children, the neighborhood, Anne Marie, and especially  Torvald.

The discussions between Nora and the other characters, and particularly between her and Torvald, form much of the drama here. Although the tone is largely darkly comic, there is a great deal of emotion, as well as thought-provoking discussions on the roles of women in society at the time, Nora’s hopes for the future, and the very nature of marriage and what it means to both men and women. The contrasting personalities of Nora and the adult Emmy also provide much to think about, as the two share both profound similarities as well as important differences. Anne Marie also provides much of the emotion and reflection here, as well.

The casting is excellent across the board, and the chemistry and energy between Layton’s Nora and Reed’s Torvald is alone worth the time and cost of admission. Both performers exhibit strong stage presence and emotional energy, from Layton’s determined and idealistic Nora to Reed’s stubborn and scarred Torvald. These two are conducting a master class here, with intense physicality and expression as well. Doggett is also fantastic in an alternately comic and sympathetic performance as the protective Anne Marie. Coffey as Emmy rounds out the cast with a strong characterization that convincingly challenges Nora’s confidence. All four are at the top of their game, and director Weber’s dynamic staging utilizes their talented with remarkable effect.

The look and atmosphere of the play are well maintain by means of Patrick Huber’s detailed but somewhat minimal set, depicting the Helmers’ house as still bearing the effects of Nora’s absence. Huber’s lighting is also excellent, as are the props and sound by STLAS. Doggett’s costumes are stunning, as well, fitting the characters and time period with appropriate style and flair. 

A Doll’s House, Part 2 has a lot to say, and I imagine it will provoke a lot of discussion about the characters and the issues raised, and how it fares as a believable sequel to Ibsen’s classic. I think it works especially well as a showcase for actors, and the actors here don’t disappoint. This is a play for lovers of theatre both classic and modern, and most of all, for appreciators of excellent acting. It’s a tour-de-force all around. 

Julie Layton, Michael James Reed
Photo by Patrick Huber
St. Louis Actors’ Studio

St. Louis Actors’ Studio is presenting A Doll’s House, Part 2 at the Gaslight Theater

until February 22, 2026

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Eclectic “Dollhouse” Challenges and Entertains at ERA

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Dollhouse by Three Manufactures
Adapted from A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibssen
Directed by Miranda Jagels Félix, Spencer Lawton, and Jimmy Bernatowicz
Equally Represented Arts
July 31, 2025

Frankie Ferrari, Hailey Medrano
Photo: ERA

 

ERA is at it again. This wildly inventive theatre company is re-examining a classic work as usual, with their characteristic experimental lens. This time, they’re doing something new, even for them. With Dollhouse by Three Manufacturers, the challenge is to present a coherent adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House with each act directed by a different person, with notably contrasting approaches. Although there are a few issues with coherency in moments, for the most part I would say that this experiment is a bold, provocative success. 

I will say that this is one of those shows that works best when the audience is somewhat educated about the source material. If you’re never seen A Doll’s House, it would be useful to find a synopsis online and familiarize yourself with the basic plot, because that will make the madcap, high-energy tone of (especially) Act 1–directed by Miranda Jagels Félix–easier to follow. The story of the pampered housewife Nora Helmer (Hailey Medrano) and her doting but oddly paternal husband, Torvald (Frankie Ferrari) is at first framed as something of a fever dream, introduced by a lounge-singer type “Mistress of Ceremonies” (Molly Wennstrom) who sings classic pop and jazz standards before the story begins that work to call attention to the subject matter of the show and add a satirical air, like “My Heart Belongs to Daddy” and others. The characterizations are played as fairly over-the-top, as the central dilemma is introduced–bank manager Torvald is about to fire longtime employee Nils Krogstad (Andrew Bayer), but Krogstad has a secret he shares with Nora involving how she was able to help Torvald during a health crisis, and he Krogstad threatens to expose Nora if she doesn’t help him. Meanwhile, Nora’s old school friend Christine (Victoria Thomas) shows up also looking for a job after being widowed, and Nora struggles with the expectations of what it means to be a wife and mother in a society in which men have all the power. This is a stylized act, where much of what Torvald says is recited by the entire cast together (minus Nora), and much of the staging is symbolic and briskly paced. It’s something of a farce, but with a highly satirical edge. There are laughs, but some of the dialogue can be hard to follow at times, especially during the group recitations.

Act 1, which is somewhat frantic, eventually gives way to Act 2, directed by Spencer Lawton, which slows down to a calmer, more somber pace, for the most part. The characters are played much closer to the “traditional” tone of A Doll’s House, making the story and the emotional weight of the proceedings a bit easier to understand. The cast keeps up the pace and transition well here, and the tone shift works especially well considering that it serves as something of a “rest” between the much more stylized first and third acts while also communicating the story and themes with clarity and emotion.

And then comes Act 3, directed by Jimmy Bernatowicz, which is the most obviously polished and precisely choreographed of the thee parts, in which the story suddenly becomes a fully realized 1950s live sitcom, complete with actual cameras as the story is filmed and projected onto the curtain at The Chapel as the story plays out. The characterizations are a bit broader again, and the sitcom format brings a good deal of laughter, as does the inclusion of live commercials integrated into the plot, as old TV and radio shows often used to do. What’s especially brilliant here is how the commercial narratives are blended with the themes of Nora’s story, particularly toward the conclusion as the commercials come to be about dolls, emphasizing the doll-like existence Nora has endured, and her increasing desire to break out of that. It’s an impeccably staged act, featuring  well-integrated live music (particularly the Buddy Holly classic “True Love Ways”), marvelous special effects, and top-notch performances by the cast. 

As for the cast, everyone is excellent and on-point, adjusting their performances to the tone of the different acts, but also keeping their characters recognizable throughout. Medrano is at turns hilarious, heartbreaking, timid, and bold as Nora, and Ferrari’s Torvald is suitably paternal and frustratingly upbeat until the devastating conclusion. There are also impressive portrayals by Bayer as the insistent Krogstad, Thomas as the somewhat enigmatic Christine, Ross Rubright as the gentle and ailing Dr. Rank, and Morgan Schindler as the family’s nanny/maid Ann-Marie, who is essentially a blend of two characters in the original play. Wennstrom makes for a memorable Mistress of Ceremonies, as well, and all of the players work well with the shifts in tone between the acts, keeping up the energy of the story as the styles change throughout.

The technical qualities of this show are also excellent and memorable, with a strong sense of “dollhouse” theming and and a versatile set by Lucy Cashion and Bernatowicz. There are also fantastic costumes by Meredith LaBounty, dazzling lighting by Jayson Lawshee, and terrific video and A/V work by Joe Taylor, especially in Act 3. 

This is unmistakably an ERA show, with emphasis on satire and critical examination of its source material–here featuring a critique of patriarchy and roles of men and women in society. It’s a new approach from a company that keeps coming up with fascinating new approaches. It may not appeal to all tastes, but I find it fascinating and especially entertaining. It’s worth a look especially if you love experimental theatre. 

Morgan Schindler, Molly Wennstrom, Andrew Bayer
Photo: ERA

Equally Represented Arts is presenting Dollhouse by Three Manufacturers at The Chapel until August 9, 2025

 

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Challenging, Fascinating “Doll’s House, Part 2” at the Rep Revisits Oft-Asked Questions

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , , on October 19, 2018| Leave a Comment »

A Doll’s House, Part 2
by Lucas Hnath
Directed by Timothy Near
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
October 12, 2018

Caralyn Kozlowski, Michael James Reed
Photo by Peter Wochniak
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

What would happen if Nora Helmer came back?  Would she even try to come back? And if so, when, and why? Those are questions that have been asked countless times since Henrik Ibsen’s classic and initially controversial play, A Doll’s House, first premiered in 1879. Well, now playwright Lucas Hnath has provided his own answers in the succinctly named A Doll’s House, Part 2. Produced on Broadway to critical acclaim in 2017, it’s now being produced here at the Rep, in a production that’s sure to provoke more questions and a lot of thought.

This play features four characters, all seen or mentioned in Ibsen’s original play. It’s 15 years later, and the once well-appointed Helmer home now shows signs of disarray, with chairs heaped in a corner, fading paint, and obvious spaces on the wall where paintings were once on display. The play begins with a knock at the door, which is eventually answered by the Helmers’ longtime housekeeper and nanny Anne Marie (Tina Johnson), who opens the door to find the long-absent Nora (Caryalyn Kozlowski) returned at long last, elegantly dressed and carrying herself with an initially confident, assertive air. Playwright Hnath has given her a believable backstory and a reason to return which I won’t go into here other than to say it makes perfect sense considering the characters, especially as they are presented here. She’s back in town to see Torvald (Michael James Reed), the husband she left in shock so many years before, with an urgent request that he’s reluctant to fulfill for his own personal reasons. What ensues is essentially a series of conversations, between Nora and Anne Marie, between Nora and Torvald, and also between Nora and Emmy (Andrea Abello), Nora’s youngest child and only daughter who was a small child when Nora left but is now a young adult. Things have changed lot since Nora left, both for her and for the family she left behind.

The characters and the issues presented are richly portrayed, in a sharp, confrontational and often darkly comic tone that brings out the contrast in the characters, their situations, and their conflicting views. Nora is a writer and activist now, with strong opinions about her own role in society and that of women in general, and the institution of marriage in particular. Even thought her portrayal in the play affirms her choice to leave, Hnath is also not shy in portraying the sometimes devastating consequences of her actions on those she left behind, as well as the sharp contrast between her own idealistic views of life and those of the young, newly engaged and also idealistic (in her own way) Emmy. The confrontations are personal as well as ideological, and as is to be expected, her scenes with Torvald are the most emotionally charged. This is a play of big ideas, strong personalities, and struggles to find an individual voice in the midst of strictly defined societal roles and expectations. Like its famous predecessor, this play is thought-provoking, to say the least, taking the issues from Ibsen’s play and casting them in the light of a more contemporary perspective, even though the setting remains in the 19th Century period.

There’s a great cast here, led by the dynamic, stage-commanding performance of Kozlowski as the determined, highly idealistic Nora. This is a woman who knows what she wants, but also struggles with the idea that not everyone wants what she wants. The always excellent Reed is also strong as a particularly stubborn Torvald, who is still nursing his old wounds from Nora’s departure and still seems confused and bewildered by her, for the most part. The scenes between these two are a dynamic highlight of the production. Abello is also memorable as Emmy, who although she is more traditionally-minded than her mother, in her own way is just as idealistic and stubborn as Nora. There’s also a great performance from Johnson as the loyal but exasperated Anne Marie, who is devoted to the family and still struggles to make sense of Nora’s departure as well as her return.

Director Timothy Near’s staging is brisk and physical, making the most of the actors’ energy and chemistry, as well as Scott C. Neale’s vivid, evocative set. This is a home in disrepair, sparsely furnished and seeming appropriately incomplete. The costumes by Victoria Livingston-Hall are meticulously detailed, reflecting the characters with precision, from the confrontationally elegant Nora to the more strait-laced Torvald to the older, weary Anne Marie to the youthful, optimistic Emmy. There’s also excellent work from lighting designer Ann G. Wrightson and sound designer Rusty Wandall in setting and maintaining the mood and tone of the production.

This was a highly talked-about play when it debuted on Broadway, which is fitting considering it’s a sequel to a play that’s been talked about, thought about, and written about for almost 140 years. That time difference adds a lot of perspective to this piece, revisiting the original setting but with a tone change that provides a contemporary flair. With the Rep’s first-rate production values, energetic staging, and strong cast, A Doll’s House, Part 2 is sure to get audiences thinking, and talking.

Caralyn Kozlowski, Andrea Abello
Photo by Peter Wochniak
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is presenting A Doll’s House, Part 2 until November 4, 2018

 

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An Exquisitely Crafted “Doll’s House” at Stray Dog Theatre

Posted in St Louis Theatre, tagged , , , , , , on February 11, 2017| Leave a Comment »

A Doll’s House
by Henrik Ibsen, Adapted by Frank McGuinness
Directed by Gary F. Bell
Stray Dog Theatre
February 2, 2017

Ben Ritchie, Nicole Angeli Photo by John Lamb Stray Dog Theatre

Ben Ritchie, Nicole Angeli
Photo by John Lamb

Stray Dog Theatre

A Doll’s House is a much-performed and studied classic of theatre by famed 19th Century Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It’s been celebrated and criticized over the decades for its feminist message, and its central role has been played by many accomplished actresses. At Stray Dog Theatre, this play represents a revolution of sorts, as it brings this always good theatre company into a new level of excellence, especially where non-musical plays are concerned.

The story, set in a small town in Norway in 1879, follows pampered housewife Nora Helmer (Nicole Angeli), who lives a seemingly idyllic existence as the wife of respected local business man Torvald (Ben Ritchie), who has just accepted a prestigious job as manager of a local bank. Her husband dotes on her, calling her his “Songbird” and “Skylark” and treating her something like an overgrown child. Nora has her own children, too–two young sons (Joe Webb as Ivar, Simon Desilets as Bobby) and a baby daughter, cared for by Nora’s childhood nanny, Anne-Marie. Her house is well-appointed and her husband’s reputation is impeccable. He’s frequently visited by his old friend, the kind but sickly Dr. Rank (John N. Reidy), and revels in the prospect of his new job and the money and status it will give him and the family, including Nora, who seems to enjoy spending his money.  As simple and stereotypical as Nora may seem at first, however, we soon learn of secrets that she is hiding even from her husband. As old school friend Kristine Linde (Rachel Hanks) arrives, newly widowed and looking for a job, Nora reveals the truth about her past with Torvald, and exactly how she was able to afford a trip to Italy some years previous that proved lifesaving for him but put Nora into the debt of Nils Krogstad (Stephen Peirick), a disgraced and disgruntled employee of the bank who is at risk of losing his job when Torvald takes over, and who desperately doesn’t want that to happen. As events progress and more is revealed about Krogstad, Kristine, Dr. Rank, and especially Torvald, Nora is forced to examine the life she has led and her future with the man she’s married to but isn’t sure she knows as well as she had thought.

This play is masterfully constructed, and even though it was written over 100 years ago and is focused on a specific time and place, it still has resonance today in terms of the roles of men and women in marriage, societal expectations and personal agency. In a way, this play is something of a counterpoint to another Ibsen classic, Hedda Gabler, depicting a woman’s plight amid the expectations of society but with somewhat different circumstances and drastically different conclusions. At Stray Dog, director Gary F. Bell has staged this work meticulously, emphasizing character relationships and pacing the show with just the right balance of urgency and patience, allowing the characters’ decisions and thought processes to convey believably and with resonance.  It all takes place on an exquisitely wrought birdcage-like set designed by Robert J. Lippert, with sumptuous, richly detailed costumes by Eileen Engel that evoke the era and style of period with excellence. These qualities are strongly supported as well by Tyler Duenow’s excellent lighting and Justin Been’s clear sound.  It’s a stunning technical production, augmenting the truly first-rate performances of the cast.

As Nora, Angeli excels. I’ve seen her in many plays over the years, and she continues to impress with her sheer ability to lose herself in a role. She inhabits Nora here with an impressive mixture of girlishness, shrewdness, vulnerability, and an underlying intelligence that shows itself more as the story plays out. She makes Nora’s journey 100% credible, and she shines in all her scenes, especially with Ritchie, also impressive as the controlling, self-absorbed but emotionally dependent Torvald. Also making strong impressions are Reidy as the earnest, kind but ultimately sad Dr. Rank, Hanks as the determined, honest Kristine, and Peirick as the oily, desperate Krogstad, whose villainy has a distinct reason. The whole supporting cast is strong, as well, with Melanie Kozak impressing as the all-seeing family maid Helene, and convincing performances from Renard as kindly nanny Anne-Marie and young Webb and Desilets as the Helmers’ sons. This is a strong script, and it demands a strong cast, which Stray Dog’s production emphatically provides.

Stray Dog Theatre is an excellent theatre company, and I’ve seen some wonderful shows there over the years, especially in the area of musical theatre. With this timely, transcendent production of A Doll’s House, though, this company has achieved a new level of excellence with a non-musical play. It’s a production that manages to celebrate Ibsen and shine a light on the plight of women in society in his time as well as now. This is a challenging work, and SDT has more than met that challenge. It’s a truly superb production.

John N. Reidy, Rachel Hanks, Ben Ritchie, Nicole Angeli Photo by John Lamb Stray Dog Theatre

John N. Reidy, Rachel Hanks, Ben Ritchie, Nicole Angeli
Photo by John Lamb
Stray Dog Theatre

Stray Dog Theatre is presenting A Doll’s House at the Tower Grove Abbey until February 18, 2017.

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