OCR Text |
Show Production has high, low spots By Jay Wamsley Billed as a classic play with relevancy for today, "A Doll's House" opened to a sparse opening night crowd Friday evening. The major problem with the fair to good production was waiting until the final scene to have any emotion injected into the play. Unfortunately, the audience had to wait for two and one-half one-half acts until the relevancy was apparent to them. It wasn't until the tail end that the audience ever felt the parts involved. And it's too bad, because the relevancy is really there and it is thought-provoking. The production is generally well-done, however, with a beautiful set and excellent lighting. The actors and actresses were very well versed and rehearsed and all lines were easy to follow. Maybe too easy. Torvald Helmer (as played by Ken Cook), the aspiring new bank manager who enjoys so much his wife's "little girl" antics, came on too strong. He made an effort to project too much. When he was holding his wife, instead of wispering sweet nothings or apologies, he was yelling. There was no apparent reason for the over-projection in the story line, just an over-effort on Cook's part. Opening night tension also came forward in Cook's character whenever he hugged or consoled his "little lark" of a wife. The little pats on the back of Nora turned into almost "fishing buddy" slaps. Alan Baird as Nils Krogstad also overplayed a bit - putting on a bit too much evil. The sinister aspect of his character was just a little overdone. Nora Helmer, on the other hand, was the most believable. She particularly rose to the occasion during the final scene. Becke Wilenski handled very well the transition of Nora from a child in the household of her husband to a woman, yearing to have meaningful experiences on her own. Some of the bantering back and forth between Nora and Torvald as she "comes to herself" was excellent. "I have lived these years by performing tricks for you, Torvald," Nora explains. "Don't leave now," Torvald retorts. "Wait until morning." "I couldn't stay the night in the house of a strange man." "But maybe we can live as brother and sister." One also has to be amused to Torvald's reactions to his wife throughout the play. As she explains why she once went into I debt to rescue him, Nora states, "I loved you," to which Torvald responds: "Donf give me any of your silly reasons." Another hign spot in the production was Mrs. Linde, played i by Michelle Brinton. Her intregal character was well-done, I except for a few moments in her introductory scene with Nora ! whtm the pair were too preoccupied with each others hands. Dr. Rank, played by Grant GottschaH, also involved the ! audience weli, and added a lot to the chain of events. Kudos should go to the Theatre Department for attempting"" ' "A Doll's House," not an easy production. It is a sensitive play I which makes the audience talk to itself about sterotypes, and love, and marriage vows and individuality. The dile'mna I facing Nora is portrayed adequately and her decision shown effectively in the present production. If the play has not been seen by a theatre patron, they will be rewarded for the insight I Nora Torvald adds to the give and take of marriage in middle- I America. The play continues this weekend at the SUSC auditorium, ' beginning at 8:15 p.m. |