Given that I only live ten minutes walk away from Nottingham’s premiere amateur venue – The Lace Market Theatre – I have to confess to never having been to this little hidden gem of a theatre before and have clearly missed out on experiencing many potential warm welcomes in the past and a lot of impressively well done theatre. After this evening’s gripping dramatic offering – A Doll’s House – a new adaptation by Australian writer Samuel Adamson, which has the added bonus of being shorter than other wordy adaptations I studied at university which, to be honest, put me off sitting through hours of what I then considered ‘long-winded’ Henrik Ibsen. If only this punchy version had been around back then. The main body of this play of repressed passions holds you in its power including the pivotal Tarantella dance by Norah and the tide turning machinations of the cruel Nils Krogstad (Johnathan Cleaver) and the breakneck ending is certainly worth the wait.
The set (David Babington) is cleverly minimalist but in a way this is the production’s blessing in that we can concentrate on the family dramas unfolding and the closeted world of Norah Helmer (Charlotte Thomas) dissolving around her and her oppressive and patronising husband Torvald (Paul Spruce). The sparse setting really emphasises the claustrophobic nature of the text.
All parts in this excellent production are transmitted with the utmost subtlety and professionalism especially those portrayed by Thomas and Spruce. It’s a bit like a really good knife-edge drama on the telly where, in your cosy home environment you yell out to the TV version of Torvald “Don’t you dare talk down to her like that!” and have some distant satisfaction in that one-sided discourse. Of course in the theatre you shouldn’t be quite so openly vocal but tonight in the confines of The Lace Market Theatre I do hear a fair few inner gasps of human and feminist horror at his constant belittlements even though those in the know – know what’s happening. If you get my gist.
The Helmer household isn’t without its expected and unexpected visitors and Doctor Rank (Jack Leo), Kristine Linde (Donna Scheffki) and unwanted financial and family will forgery worries intruder Nils Krogstad (Johnathan Cleaver) all play their parts magnificently. Janice White gives us a very accomplished Anne-Marie and the play is superbly directed by Cynthia Marsh. I am told that The Lace Market Theatre supply all their own costumes and the ones on stage tonight are as high quality as one might hope for.
A Doll’s House runs at The Lace Market Theatre until 20th April 2024
