Brisbane review - Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” Stuns Audience

By Lilian Harrington

Production:  A Doll’s House

Writer:            Henrik Ibsen

Adapted by: Luke Monsour and Cindy Monsour

Company:     Villanova Players (V.P)

Director:         Luke Monsour

Location:       The Ron Hurley Theatre, 28 Tallowwood St.  Seven Hills

Season:           May 1- 10 @ 7 30pm Fridays / Saturdays and 2 pm Mats, Sat. Sun.

Bookings:        Try Booking villanovaplayers.com // Mobile: 0423920832

Often referred to as “the father of modern drama” Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen, (1828 -1906), has influenced playwrights and theatre direction over the years; the realistic life situations he wrote about in his texts shocked viewers at the time, but his ideas and message that he wanted to tell has impacted modern day theatre.

A Doll’s House is an important theatrical statement for the time, because it deals with gender roles and the position of women in that period still relevant today; women’s role in society, relationships, a woman’s status in marriage, and a common fear of facing up to reality or to be openly honest with a partner and family, when they have been trapped in a marriage that gives them little freedom; it focuses on coercive control and the treatment received from an overbearing or misguided husband; a wife’s fear of overspending or having to keep secrets from her husband and facing difficult consequences if they do own up.

Villanova Players have mounted a strong production of “A Doll ‘s House” which opened recently for a limited season, under the direction of Luke Monsour. In this play Nora Helmer (Eleanor Crosse), is happily married to Torvald Helmer (Steven Eggington), a successful bank manager and they have three children. Unfortunately, the situation begins to fall apart after a chance meeting with an old school friend, Kristine Linde (Mary Veitch), followed by a dubious businessman Nils Krogstad (Reece Milne), which leaves her happy 8 -year marriage, cocooned in a “Dolls House”, doomed. Nora’s happiness has been shadowed by a secret deception she committed some years earlier when she risked all, to save the life of her ailing husband and borrowed money from a lawyer of ill -repute. The lawyer returns to blackmail her and expose her situation, if she doesn’t help him get a promotion in her husband’s bank; Exposure would ruin her marriage and her life as she’s known it. She considers the alternatives, when she is forced to confront the reality of her situation. The script adaptation by Cindy and Luke Monsour, in this production, attempts a close modern look at Ibsen’s original intention and focus on humanity.

Strong performances were seen from Nora Helmer (Eleanor Crosse), as the beautiful Nora, who brought a good understanding to the role showing a certain innocent emotional flamboyance and naivety; Torvald Helmer (Steven Eggington), displayed decided changes of emotion as he portrayed the business like, insensitive, traditional husband, who totally misunderstood and underestimated his wife, who he has treated like a plaything, or his little bird. Kristine Linde (Mary Veitch), played the long -time supportive friend of Nora with confidence but, she too was out for her own gain as well. The smooth team work shown by cast had a good pace and energy which helped emphasize the message in the drama, and kept the audience involved.

The stage set design created under the guidance of Villanova’s Lucy Moxon, and lighting from Cindy Monsour, helped to give the play an ambience and provided a genuine scenic belief. Lia Sorrentino’s costume design complimented the overall image the director had envisaged, with her keen eye for detail. This classic play should not be missed; It runs for a limited season.