Amelia Community Theatre
Press Release
Submitted by Linda McClain
March 2, 2020
Amelia Community Theatre opens “A Doll’s House, Part 2” on March 6 in its Studio 209 Theatre at 209 Cedar Street. This sequel by Lucas Hnath is a comedic drama that opened on Broadway in 2017 and received eight Tony nominations; Laurie Metcalf won the Tony Award for Best Actress in her role as Nora. The New York Times called the show “a triumph….smart, funny and utterly engrossing.”
The play begins with a knock on the door by Nora, the Nora first created by Henrik Ibsen for “A Doll’s House.” That play ended with Nora leaving her marriage and her children by walking out of her house and slamming the door behind her, an exit often referred to by literary critics as “the slam heard round the world.” Now it is 1894, fifteen years later, and Nora, re-imagined by playwright Hnath, is outside that same door, wanting in.
But, Nora isn’t returning to her family. She is back in town to straighten out some legal matters. Despite the passage of time, her rights as a woman are still limited, and she needs assistance from Torvald, her husband, who was supposed to have filed divorce papers.
Nora seeks understanding from Anne Marie, the nanny who raised her children in her absence, and who still works and cares for Torvald and Emmy, the daughter Nora left behind. Nora, who has written about the destructive aspects of marriage, discovers that her daughter is engaged and eager to be married.
ACT’s cast includes Sinda Nichols as Nora, Fran Hindsley as Anne Marie, Barrett King as Torvald, and Margaret Meadows as Emmy.
Director Jennifer Webber says, “Characters dressed in period costumes from the Victorian age are discussing very modern problems and using very modern language. They deal with issues like gender inequality, infidelity, and parental responsibility with humor and sass.”
It is not necessary to be familiar with Ibsen’s play to understand “A Doll’s House, Part 2,” as Hnath’s play stands on its own. But Webber adds, “If you haven’t read Ibsen’s original, I’m willing to bet that after seeing our show, you may be curious to know Nora even better and will want to check out the play or movie version.”
Performances are at 8 p.m. on March 6-7 and 12-14, with a matinee at 2 p.m. on March 8. The show is rated PG-13 for adult language. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students through college, and are available online at AmeliaCommunityTheatre.org and by calling 261-6749. The ACT box office is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 207 Cedar Street, and ninety minutes before curtain in the Studio 209 Theatre.
“A Doll’s House, Part 2” is sponsored by Laurie Kitson-Bowers and David Bowers.
For all the discerning theatergoers out there, this is a must see! You will have the opportunity to see not only an excellent play, but a play with two of the best, I mean finest actors on the island–how lucky can we get!