A Doll's House, Part 2
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Cititour.com Review
To paraphrase an old show-biz saying, the sequel is rarely the equal. So anyone expecting Lucas Hnath’s “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” now at the Golden Theatre, to have the psychological power and insight of Henrik Ibsen’s classic 1879 drama is likely to be disappointed. And that’s about it for the bad news.
Hnath – author of the highly acclaimed “The Christians” – has penned a bright (in all senses of the word), albeit slight 90-minute play that cleverly follows up on some of Ibsen’s themes about marriage and equality. Better yet, the seemingly tireless Sam Gold has directed a beautifully chosen four-person cast that brings out both the work’s layers and its levity.
Chief among them is the extraordinary Laurie Metcalf as the famed Nora Helmer, who returns 15 years to the home (ultra-sparingly rendered by Miriam Beuther) she so famously slammed the door on in Ibsen’s play. Dressed in a gorgeous blue skirt shirt (by David Zinn), Nora has clearly prospered during her absence, so it’s no great surprise that she has not come crawling back to return to her former life and former husband Torvald (a very effective turn by Oscar winner Chris Cooper, returning to Broadway after 37 years).
Nevertheless, Nora– who has become something of a 19th-century Gloria Steinem with her views on the unnecessity of marriage– has some very good and very surprising reasons for returning home. Even more surprising: the reactions to her short visit turn out to be far from what she expected.
Her former nanny Anne Marie (Tony winner Jayne Houdyshell, brilliantly displaying her comic chops) is not exactly delighted to see the woman she raised instead of her own child; she’s bitter about Nora’s long-ago departure, scared of the repercussions of her homecoming, and most of all, would like her life (unhappy as it seems) to stay just as is.
Then there’s Nora’s now-grown daughter Emmy (Condola Rashad in a somewhat stylized but nonetheless remarkable performance), who treats her mother mostly as a stranger – unsurprising as she has no memory of Nora – and who has turned out to be just as smart and semi-manipulative as Nora. While she smiles like the Cheshire Cat for most of their brief reconciliation, Emmy is not above scolding Nora for her actions, and Rashad beautifully conveys the hurt heart beneath the happy face.
Even Torvald’s feelings towards Nora – once he gets over the initial shock of seeing her again – turn out to be more complex than could have been imagined. Indeed, the show’s final scene, an unexpected heart-to-heart between the Helmers, has great poignancy and beauty.
It’s partly Metcalf’s generosity to her fellow performers that makes the production work as well as it does; she’s a star who has no interest in a star turn. Moreover, Hnath has provided her with a rare role that allows her to show both her incredible talent for verbal comedy (her strongest suit) and her flair for the dramatic. Still, Metcalf always stays true to her character no matter which road she chooses.
As for the final road Nora chooses, well, that my surprise you too. Admitedly if this was a movie, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hnath was working on “A Doll’s House, Part 3.” But given the nature of theater, I think the door has been firmly shut on this particular story.
By Brian Scott Lipton
Visit the Site
http://dollshousepart2.com
Cast
Laurie Metcalf, Chris Cooper, Jayne Houdyshell, Condola Rashad
Open/Close Dates
Opening 4/27/2017
Closing 9/24/2017
Preview Open/ Preview Close Dates
Preview Opening 3/30/2017
Closing Open-ended
Box Office
212-239-6200
Theatre Info
John Golden Theatre
252 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
Map
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