This month, the Anderson University Theater Department will be putting on a production of A Doll’s House, written by Henrik Ibsen, at the Byrum Hall Theater. This enthralling 1879 play was written to portray the struggles of European women during a period of time when they were not granted as many rights or as much authority as men. Ibsen’s play follows a housewife, Nora Helmer, and her life with her restrictive and controlling husband, Torvald, and a deep secret that she works to keep hidden from her entire family. The amazing crew putting on this show is only composed of six talented actors and two stage managers, as well as a guest appearance from another performer, who have managed to put together a full and skilled production in a very short amount of time. The small and intimate cast allows for an audience experience that truly makes it feel like there is a family on the stage, with conflict, affection and a genuine desire to understand one another and properly tell a serious story.
The play explores themes of secrecy, love, and what independence truly means to a group of people who have never had it before. This production of the play, directed by Caroline Sanchez, will be a special and unparalleled vision of an older and commonly discussed play in the theater world, as well as enticing new audiences who may not be as familiar with the performing arts. Sanchez discussed in depth about her decisions in both directing this play and her other plays. While she prefers to lean more towards a more eccentric and divergent way of portraying her shows, she wanted to attempt to settle into a theme of realism for A Doll’s House, a challenge for both her and her cast. As Sanchez explained it, “I wanted to do my own adaptation of the script, but as I got into the text, the message that came through was still so relevant today that I did not make as many changes as I had anticipated.”
Despite this play being nearly 150 years old, it is still performed in theaters around the globe for its relevant themes and engaging dialogue. The play discusses a genuine concern for women’s rights and their roles in the household, and argues for equality in a more subtle way that audiences do not often see. When asked, the cast was excited to share all of the different and profound ways that they had grown while being a part of a piece such as this. Faith Martin, who is playing the character of Nurse Anne, stated, “I had to dig deeper into parts of myself…it takes you through a lot of weird stages of grief.” Her character, while minor, plays a large part in shaping the main female character through their connected past, where she took the role of a maternal figure. Martin spoke about the struggles of acting as a character who has gone through an experience that she has not gone through: “Having to find grounds for that and then learn how to understand that has been a really interesting journey.”
Theater has always been a creative way to express controversial and serious issues happening in the world, and the relevance of this play is defended by how it is still discussed and used as an educational tool today. Student stage manager, Lauren Bemis, who is premiering as a stage manager and a member of the AU crew, stated, “A Doll’s House is very revolutionary for its time…it is altogether a very inspiring show concerning mental health and coming to the truths of your own actions.” The story is avant-garde for its time, especially with the author being a man writing about serious women’s issues. However, these issues create an enduring and timeless show that can still be performed and appreciated over 100 years later. Lead actress Ella English, who plays Nora Helmer, states this message for the audience, “Pay attention to the little details. Buckle up for a long show, but a good show, and an important show.”
If you’re planning on visiting A Doll’s House, it premieres this Saturday, October 17th at 2:30 PM, along with a later show on the same day at 7:30 PM. The show will go on Sunday, October 18th at 2:30 PM, then follow the next weekend on Friday, October 23rd at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, October 24th at 2:30 p.m., and a final show at 7:30 p.m.. Anderson students are able to claim one ticket for free, with tickets then starting at $20, and senior and military tickets starting at $10. The Boze Lyric Theatre box office can be reached at (765) 641-4140 for further questions or assistance.