The Mercury Theatre in Wynnum performs in the lovely old Manly-Lota RSL Memorial Hall at 184 Melville Terrace, Manly QLD 4179. Their current production – “A Doll’s House” ends this weekend.
You are greeted by a warm glowing hall with a multi-level stage set with a Victorian styled parlour, a study, a piano and the Letterbox. The FOH staff are helpful and welcoming, and the barmen are humorous.
“A Doll’s House” is a three-act play written by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It premiered at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 December 1879 and Ibsen was forced to write an alternative ending because his initial ending was considered scandalous for the Victorian era. It has been considered ahead of its time, because of the themes of male and female inequalities helping it to hold a modern appeal.
This version of the play has 6 characters:
Nora – the protagonist – petulant, self-indulgent yet still symbolic of a good Victorian wife – pretty, obedient to her husband, head of the household and a loving mother but has a secret.
Torvald – the antihero- breadwinner, domineering, respectable.
Krogstad – the antagonist – a lawyer, blackmailer, bully, desperate man with a secret
Mrs Linde – the Hero -a widow, humble, hardworking, morally sound
Dr Rank – the romantic interest – terminally ill, besotted with Nora, friend of the family.
Nanny – symbol of lower class, forced to give up her children to work for the family.
Elaina Mullins played Nora, the central character, a symbol of the time with a tendency to tell petty lies, until it is revealed that she has committed a crime of fraud. Pushed to this by a society that prevented married women taking control of their financial affairs. Elaina made good use of the stage, her costume was pretty, a Victorian-esque blouse and a pale pink overskirt. She was the wife a Banker and mother, with a weakness for macaroons.
Torvald, played by Derick Yearnsmith was the husband of Nora. An emotionless character, domineering and focused on work. The multi-level staging worked well – giving this character his own identifiable space.
Trevor Sammon played Krogstad, a believable villain, with a big physical presence that lent itself well to the character. Which he played emotionally detached from the business of blackmail.
Hugo Fong was Dr Rank, making good use of a walking stick to give characterization of an unwell man. His gentleness was a good contrast to the other male characters.
Helen Goleby, the Nanny popped in and out and gave believability to there being children in the household, dressed appropriately this character added a dimension as the servant.
But the real hero was Janet Palmer as Mrs Linde. Superb characterization, good range of emotion, her character was totally believable. Playing a childless widow (therefore unwanted by any man in that era) she must work to support herself. She rescues Nora, first by mending the skirt, then by listening to her problems. She helps Nora to face what she has done.
You can sit and watch this play and see a different version of the same play. The beauty of life theatre is that the longer the season, the likelihood of more layers being added, more discoveries made by the actors.
This is the last weekend so don’t miss out. It is a good solid play and the direction, tech and staging are delightful. The costumes were also on point helping to solidify the era.
Shows start at 7pm and 2pm
https://www.trybooking.com/DEOHJ
To book tickets to A Dolls House, please visit https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1450887.
