Tash Mahnokaren
Staff writer
How far would you go? This is the classic question that the play “A Doll’s House,” an upcoming production by the Stephens Performing Arts Center, addresses, when Nora has to commit forgery to save the life of her husband.
An ode to the critical views of marriage norms in the composer’s time, the play also alludes to the notions of women’s rights.
According to Robert Sanford Brustein in his book, “Reimaging American Theater,” Ibsen stated that he “must disclaim the honor of having consciously worked for the women’s rights movement” as his “task has been the description of humanity.”
Originally written by Henrik Ibsen, the play is also considered to depict one of the earliest usages of realism, a form that was relatively unknown at the time.
The adaptation of the play by Norman Schroder, play director of Idaho State University’s Theatre Department, does not deviate much from Ibsen’s original in wanting to adhere to the authenticity of its representation of realism.
Realism, at the time, was unknown to theater. With Ibsen’s play, however, this notion of adopting realistic features of conversational dialogue, setting and addressing the issues of society began to gain recognition.
“Plays until that time were either classical or actors were praised for their recitation, their ability to phrase the poetry,” said Schroder.
With the advance that theatre and entertainment have taken today, it is easy to see that realism permeates and blends to the extent that to even identify it is redundant.
In Ibsen’s time, however, people marveled at this concept. A similar reaction and appreciation for the earliest expression of realism Schroder hopes to attain from the modern audience that will be attending the play.
“In the past years, we tend to teach ‘A Doll’s House’ so much more because of its themes of feminism and equal rights,” said Schroder. “We try to expose our students to a wide variety of acting styles and dramatic literature, and by extension the university community and the audience.”
The elements that come together to give life to a production such as “A Doll’s House” are various. Costuming for the production, owes itself to the talent and vision of students.
“What we try to do with design students who particularly demonstrate capability is to at a certain point, if we feel that they are ready, to allow them to do a show,” said Schroder.
Main production credit was given to Amelia McDaniel, the student who designed all the costumes for the play.
“We have been working on these costumes for about five weeks,” said McDaniel.
An abundance of time and effort that goes into putting on a production and the collective student and faculty efforts is certain.
“For a show like this, we probably have at least 400 collective hours that are put in by the cast, designers, builders and the people that run the show,” said Schroder.
The production will be put on in the Black Box Theater. The intimacy of the Black Box allows for the actors to hold to the subtlety of realism.
This rather small setting also allows the audience to be in close proximity to the actors on stage. This closeness allows for the audience to better assimilate with the actors.
“A show like this benefits from that, where you really feel like you are in the room,” said Schroder. “The idea that we are seeing into their house and we are right here in the room with them.”
“A Doll’s House” will take place in the Rogers Black Box Theater in the Stephens Performing Arts Center. The production is set to take place on April 18, 19, 21, 25, and 26.
Tickets for the production can be purchased at the Campus Connection desk in the Pond Student Union Building on the ISU campus or by calling 282-3595.
