Quote of the Day: A woman cannot be herself in the society of the present day, which is an exclusively masculine society, with laws framed by men and with a judicial system that judges feminine conduct from a masculine point of view. Henrik Ibsen, in his notes for this “modern tragedy,” on society’s reaction to his play A Doll’s House, from the introduction of Six Play by Henrik Ibsen, translations and introduction by Eva Le Gallienne. 

The Guthrie Theater’s production of A Doll’s House by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is a new adaptation by Amy Herzog which premiered on Broadway in 2023. I have a copy of the play translated by Eva Le Gallienne, and I’ve seen a local production of it. Amy Herzog’s adaptation modernizes some of the language, and Tracy Brigden’s direction gives the story more intensity as it picks up the pace. She also does a brilliant job of bringing out the humor. It’s one of my favorite plays. I’m fascinated by the transformation of Nora, from hopeful naiveté to a bold woman, literally stepping out of society’s norms and expectations and taking charge of her own life. It leaves her husband Torvald, the world they live in, and audiences from 1879 to today, stunned. It’s brilliant and courageous writing from Ibsen, and I’m always blown away by how progressive he was in his thinking and holding up the truth about the world and its flaws. He portrays women as fully formed humans, with depth in thinking, full range of emotions, and capable of becoming who they are meant to be. He also gives women wonderful, juicy roles to play on stage. 

David Andrew Macdonald as Torvald and Amelia Pedlow as Nora in the Guthrie Theater’s production of A Doll’s House, thru 10/12/25. Photo: Dan Norman

Amelia Pedlow is wonderful as Nora Helmer. She gives this complex character an emotional range that is fascinating to watch. She is deceptive and calculating in her financial decisions, and she’s sweet and playful with her children. She plays into Torvald’s need to see her as a plaything, a living doll, who dances for company and fills the space with beauty and grace. She also maintains her motivation, first to keep her husband alive, then to preserve her secret, and finally to look at her life and her relationship and face the hard truth of it.

David Andrew Macdonald plays Nora’s husband Torvald Helmer. He is a product of his society, one where men are given all the opportunities and power. He’s been taught that women have no financial sense or conviction. Their duties are to house and home. They certainly have no rights to earn, have, or borrow money. Why would they?  They have men to take care of them. Until, they don’t.

Ricardo Chavira as Nils Krogstad and Catherine Eaton as Kristine Linde in the Guthrie Theater’s production of A Doll’s House, thru 10/12/25. Photo: Dan Norman

Catherine Eaton plays Nora’s friend Kristine Linde. She reenters Nora’s life on the eve of some major changes. Although she’s done all the right things  – followed society’s expectations, married the man, took care of the man – still she’s left with nothing now that he’s dead. He didn’t earn much, saved nothing, and left her penniless and childless. She now needs a job – so she can support herself! She appeals to Nora, hoping she’ll have influence over her husband Torvald.

Ricardo Chavira plays Nils Krogstad, something of a money shark. He has done what he feels he had to do to make money. His history with Nora and threats of exposing her financial secret create the tension. He also has a past with Kristine which shows a flip in society’s expectations of who takes care of whom. Andrew May enters as family friend Dr. Peter Rank, who has quietly admired Nora for years, but has his own challenges that he wishes to hide. George Keller plays the Helmer’s nanny Anne-Marie. Nora and Torvald’s children Ivar and Emmy are portrayed through sound recordings by Brock Heuring and Eve Scharback, and a lovely portrait on the wall of the Helmer’s living room, where all the action takes place.

Andrew May as Dr. Peter Rank, David Andrew Macdonald as Torvald Helmer, and Amelia Pedlow as Nora Helmer in the Guthrie Theater’s production of A Doll’s House, thru 10/12/25. Photo: Dan Norman

Lovely set design by Luciana Stecconi is of the Torvald’s living room. It looks like a vintage portrait, shades of blue, grey and silver, with only a chair and ottoman and fainting couch. Light plays across the room showing the passage of time – morning to afternoon, and finally evening. Lighting design by Robert Wierzel. Sound design by Jane Shaw. And, gorgeous period costumes designed by Trevor Bowen. 

A Doll’s House is an exquisite play, written and set in the past, with modern translation and themes that still resonate today. The stellar cast draws you in, and you can feel the complexities of their relationships. It’s a play that points out flaws in society, especially roles and expectations of men and women – husbands and wives. It’s a play that I keep thinking about long after the lights go up and discuss on the ride home, and into the week. You can see A Doll’s House at the Guthrie Theater through October 12, 2025.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt: Have your views on society changed as you’ve grown older? Have you ever felt you had to keep a big secret from someone close to you? How did that affect your relationships?