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Stars explained: * A production of no real merit
with failings in all areas. ** A production showing evidence of not
enough time or effort, or even talent, and which never breathes any real
life into the piece – or a show lumbered with a terrible script. *** A
good enjoyable show which might have some small flaws but has largely
achieved what it set out to do.**** An excellent show which shows a
great deal of work and stage craft with no noticeable or major
flaws.***** A four star show which has found that extra bit of magic
which lifts theatre to another plane. |
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New telling of old classic
A Doll’s House
Sutton Arts Theatre
**** THIS production is the latest example of
the bold programming by Sutton Arts Theatre. Straight plays always have
to work harder to win an audience than other theatrical genres, and
period writing has to work harder still. Yet
A Doll’s House
is one of the most performed plays of all time, and Ibsen competes with
Shakespeare as the most performed playwright. Written 135 years ago, its
examination of women, marriage, and the human condition endures. Central to any successful performance of this
play is the part of Nora. One of the best parts ever written for a w Michelle Dawes as Nora does just that. Beautiful,
fretful, wilful, and doubtful, her stunning luscious costumes provide a
visual focus to a compelling performance which oozes paranoia and panic
before resolution. She is the star of the show. Opposite her Stuart Goodwin as her husband
Torvald is wide-eyed and soppy, oblivious to his wife’s financial
problems and emotional needs. It’s a difficult task, playing the part of
a devoted husband to an emotionally estranged wife, but Goodwin pulls it
off. His final bewilderment at his abandonment was particularly
poignant. Dan Payne is as dour as a debt collector should
be, and Bhupinder Dhamu, friend and finally reconciled wife does well to
tackle a range of responses in quite a short amount of dialogue. Allan
Lane (Dr Jens Rank) Nora’s doomed admirer is dapper, and reserved,
barely able to contain his desire for Nora, not least when she teases
him with the stockings she intends to wear for the party. Libby Allport is bright and breezy as the
housekeeper and sometime playmate of energetic children,
enthusiastically played by Luke Flaherty and Leo Butts. John Islip and his team have produced a bright
dolls house effect single set with pink walls and Scandinavian pine
complete with hand- made fireplace and HMV style record player. Director
Ian Appleby sets the action in period by costume but there are no cod
Norwegian accents to distract although the icy bite to the wind as I
walked to the theatre added an extra Nordic air of authenticity to
proceedings. The pace is brisk, the focus on character
incessant, although in modern 21st century Western society it is
impossible to recreate the shock that a woman walking out on her
husband, children and social position would have created then, the
themes of marriage, money and secrets are timeless. Nora’s attitude to money would find favour with
any contemporary Greek finance minister, Torvald’s handling of his
trophy wife, strong on small talk, weak on substance, is painfully well
portrayed by husband and wife. The discordant jazz piano motif which
drifts in and out of the production is haunting, and a fitting aural
backdrop. A strong, powerful production of a very good
play. To 14-02-15 Gary Longden05-02-15 |
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