For this post I will be reviewing the story of 'A Doll's House' which is a famous play written by Henrik Ibsen. The play is currently being performed at the Young Vic Theatre in London and I went to see this production recently. I thought that it was an incredible performance with emotions illustrated well for the audience and the sympathy portrayed for the main character, Nora, was done excellently. In the programme included the script of the whole play so afterwards I decided to read it again. 'A Doll's House' premiered in 1879 in Copenhagen and is the second in a series of realist plays by Ibsen. It provoked huge controversy with its apparent feminist message. The characters in the story consist of Nora Helmer, Torvald Hemler (Nora's husband), Helene (the maid), Anna (the nanny), Dr Rank (a friend of the Helmers), Kristine Linde (an old friend of Nora's) and Nils Krogstad (whom which Nora had an acquaintance with, over a serious matter, also a worker for Mr. Helmer). The play takes place in the Helmers' house in a town in Norway in 1878. Nora Helmer has secretly borrowed some money to save her husbands life after he falls ill from working too hard to earn money for the family. Nora took him away to Itlay and he returned healthy and well again. Torvald's perception of his wife is silly and naive calling her his child or referring to her as a animals like birds, "Has my little hamster been spending all of my money again?" At first this seems quite innocent however when it is revealed that Nora did not get the money from her father - as she said she did - she is very worried about Torvald finding out that she borrowed it and what his reaction might be. Krogstad, a current worker for Mr Helmer, picks Nora up on this and threatens to tell Torvald unless she saves his job. It all turns very complicated with a friend of Nora's turns up which Nora receives help from as well as dying Dr Rank admitting he has always loved her. At the end of the play Torvald receives the letter explaining what Nora did and is furious. He calls Nora a dishonest and immoral woman who is unfit to raise their children. He says that from now on their marriage will be only a matter of appearances. But Nora receives a letter from Krogstad saying there is not a worry anymore and that he will not reveal this to anyone else. Torvald's mood suddenly changes and is overjoyed that no-one will find out what his previous 'dishonest' wife had done, however Nora realises something is very wrong. It shows how badly she was being treated and not realising it. It releases unmendable cracks in their marriage and Nora knows that she must do the right thing...
My favourite quote is: "I think I'm a human being before anything else. I don't care what other people say. I don't care what people write in books. I need to think for myself."
I would give the plot of 'A Dolls' House' 5 out of 5 stars as the performance and words of the script are gripping. I would recommend the age of 14 up as it is very deep and meaningful which children may not understand.
Here is a video to the performance at the Young Vic:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOuFocD10hU
