Stage Productions and Interpretations of - PowerPoint Presentation

Stage Productions and Interpretations of A Doll’s House

Original Production Information first performance December 21, 1879Copenhagen, Denmark at The Royal TheatreSetting is importantsuggests the title A Doll’s House (Ibsen 2186-2233), as it is always in a househome might be the doll’s house, where Nora is trapped in her unrespected role as a wife until she leaves at the end (suggesting the end of her role as someone else’s “doll” (Ibsen 2230) Nora, played by Betty Hennings, in the first production

Original Production... Cultural/ Contextual Considerations Nora not thought of highly by husband due to time frame Ibsen wants to show how women were not treated with much respect or seriousnesshusband calls her animal or pet names, like “squirrel” (Ibsen 2186) and “songbird” (Ibsen 2229)Nora refers to herself as being treated like a “doll-child, and he played with me the way I played with my dolls” (Ibsen 2230)low status for womenShows progression of women’s mindsets as they gained more independence; realizing the change they can make as well as ability to take decisions for themselves.

1880 Alternate Ending Information Some German theatres produced an unauthorized fourth act in which Nora returns to Torvald, begging him to take her back (he feeds her a macaroon and does). Ibsen changed ending for North-German theatres so an altercation would not be made by someone elseNora does not leave in this versionInstead, Helmer makes Nora visit her children, saying they will be “Motherless” (Ibsen, no page)Ibsen hoped not to use this version, calling it a “barbaric act of violence” towards his playwished not many theatres would perform itonly changed it because the lead actress, Hedwig Niemann-Raabe, would not act the last scene as it was, saying she would never abandon her children

1880 Alternate Ending... Cultural/ Contextual Considerations change in location of the performance of the play resulted in a change in plot possible that German culture would not accept ending as it wascultural conflict with lead actressbeing of a different culture or background, she could not accept the play’s ending

Chinese Production of A Doll’s House Information Director of Chinese version is Wu Xiaojiang Setting1930s in ChinaCharacterizationNora is again a young Norwegian wife, this time married to a wealthy Chinese manFormatNora’s character uses English while all other characters use ChineseTheatre projects English/Chinese translations on both sides of the stageComic Reliefcharacter of Krogstad provides comic relief by mixing lots of Pidgin English into his ChineseThemeplay reflects troubles with inter-cultural and inter-racial relationshipscommon to see Western men with Chinese girlfriends or wives, but it is much rarer to see Chinese men with Western girlfriends or wives shows the complexities of a foreign woman with a Chinese man in this version, Nora leaves because she feels she is not fit to be with a Chinese man because she is too Western compare to “Maybe - if your doll gets taken away” (Ibsen 2232) leaves instead to escape hollow marriage

Chinese Production of A Doll’s House... Cultural/ Contextual Considerations being in China, play had to reflect more of the Chinese culture than a European one In keeping the Norwegian woman alongside the Chinese man, it also reflects the clash of cultures; a Western, more liberal culture that was beginning to open doors for women against a Chinese, conservative culture where men are the only voice for the family and treated with all respect.Not only shows clash of feminist beliefs, but also shows culture change for a modernizing (and Westernizing) China.

Dollhouse (2003/ 2007) Information produced by Lee Breuer aspects of play:Uses puppets of couples in the backgroundTakes place in a dollhouseUses dwarves for the male charactersLee Breuer: “The patriarchy is in reality three feet tall, but has a voice that will dominate six-foot women. Male power isn't dependent on physical size. At the same time we're exploring the metaphor from the woman's point of view, the way maternal love is lavished on these child-size men, which only infantilizes them further.” (“Welcome to Lee Breuer’s Dollhouse”)

Dollhouse (2003/ 2007)... Cultural/ Contextual Considerations Version used to show how roles hold both men and women back, not just women Ibsen’s version: “But you neither think nor talk like a man I could join myself to” (Ibsen 2232)Nora realizes her husband will not promote her, just hinder herInterpretation for Dollhouse could come from this line, as it shows how her husband is not really a respectable man either

2011 A Doll’s House Information Performed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival More modernized; described as if it was in the 1960s, including records and a paper shredderClear how women had a bigger role in this productionNora having to deal with not only being a mother but also juggles having a job.still contains idea of women’s lack of equality as wives

2011 A Doll’s House... Cultural/ Contextual Considerations updated time period to show more of how the story would apply and play out in a later setting message rather consistent, although details are changedreflects the desires of the later Feminist movement, working to gain more respect and independence in the workplace as opposed to earlier issues such as women's suffrage

A Doll’s House Short Film (2012) Information Directed by Carrie Cracknell Modernized version of A Doll’s Housechanged because of changes in women’s statusDifferences:Norahas a jobhas to balance work, taking care of her children, and being a wifetries to show how women have to balance these roles, while their husbands do not

A Doll’s House Short Film (2012)...

A Doll’s House Short Film (2012)... Cultural/ Contextual Considerations Nora in present day would have different problems than in 1800s newer technologies and further advancement for womenstays with theme of original of how women are not treated as equals“...take this letter; go out with it at once. Get hold of a messenger and have him deliver it. Quick now” (Ibsen 2210)Helmer rejects any authority of Nora when sending the letter to Krogstad (to fire him) in front of her

Sequels and Parodies ( Nora’s Return, How Nora Returned Home Again: An Epilogue, A Doll’s House Repaired, and Breaking a Butterfly) InformationIn most: Nora is remorseful but stays, or leaves and is punishedIn A Doll’s House - And After, Torvald becomes an alcoholic and the children commit suicide.Mile Fabre’s La Maison d’Argile (The House of Clay) features Nora’s children, grown up, who hunt down their mother and confront her. A feminist/socialist sequel to the play was written in 1979, entitled What Happened After Nora Left Her Husband; or Pillars of Society Nora takes odd jobs, including factory worker, mistress, prostitute, political figure, and ends up with a pro-Nazi businessman. Breaking a Butterflynew version of A Doll’s Houseperformed on in 1884In London at Prince’s Theatre

Sequels and Parodies ( Nora’s Return, How Nora Returned Home Again: An Epilogue, A Doll’s House Repaired, and Breaking a Butterfly)... Cultural/ Contextual ConsiderationsNora’s suffering extended in some versions, altering the endcontinues: “Oh, the freezing black water! The depths - down - Oh, I wish it were over” (Ibsen 2227)Nora suffers because of what has happened as a result of her forgery. These newer versions do not seem to show her revelation about her imprisonment in her marriage as in Ibsen’s version.Nora’s experiences also attempt to overcome her place as a woman in society - her independence and determination is seen as an act of feminism in many versions. These sequels serve as an attempt to overcome the patriarchal views in the original story, not by changing the story necessarily, but by showing how better off Nora is without her husband.

Works Cited Information All About Henrik Ibsen . National Library of Norway, n.d. Web. 19 October 2013.IMBD. IMBD.com, Inc., 2013. Web. 19 October 2013.Ibsen, Henrik. “A Doll House.” The Norton Introduction to Literature: Ninth Edition. Ed. Alison Booth, J. Paul Hunter, and Kelly J. Mays. New York: W.W Norton &Company, 2005. 2186-2233. Print. Feldman, Adam. "Jonesing for Nora: A Short History of A Doll's House Sequels." Time Out . N.p., 5 Apr. 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. GradeSaver . GradeSaver LLC, 2013. Web. 20 October 2013. The Guardian . Guardian News and Media Limited, 2013. Web. 19 October 2013. “A Study Guide for Educators: A Doll’s House.” American Stage Theatre Company . American Stage Theatre Company, n.d. Web. 20 October 2013. Vincentelli, Elisabeth. “‘House’ Needs Work, but You’ll Rave for Rabe.” New York Post . NYP Holdings, Inc., 2013. Web. 20 October 2013. “Welcome to Lee Breuer’s Dollhouse.” The Village Voice News . Village Voice, LLC, 2013. Web. 20 October 2013. Pictures All About Henrik Ibsen . National Library of Norway, n.d. Web. 19 October 2013. IMBD . IMBD.com, Inc., 2013. Web. 19 October 2013. The Guardian . Guardian News and Media Limited, 2013. Web. 19 October 2013. “A Study Guide for Educators: A Doll’s House.” American Stage Theatre Company . American Stage Theatre Company, n.d. Web. 20 October 2013. Vincentelli, Elisabeth. “‘House’ Needs Work, but You’ll Rave for Rabe.” New York Post . NYP Holdings, Inc., 2013. Web. 20 October 2013.