Lit Moon Theatre Company’s latest production, Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House,” couldn’t be more timely given the current raised awareness and desire (by some) to address the injustices and inequality faced by women around the world. Ibsen’s play was controversial, dealing as it does with a wife, who in the latter part of the 19th century had almost no rights, leaves her husband because she won’t submit to being his chattel and won’t accept that he loves himself more than he loves her. Early productions in countries other than Ibsen’s Norway tacked on a happy ending, thereby upending the whole premise of the play. Nora is excoriated for forging her Father’s signature to guarantee a loan to save her husband’s life, necessitated by laws prohibiting women any financial freedom or initiative without permission from a man. All part and parcel of laws and attitudes made and enforced by men. When husband Tovald discovers Nora’s deception, he’s ready to throw her out and Nora is fully prepared to commit suicide. Only when he learns that one of his employees who has been blackmailing Nora won’t reveal the secret does he deign to forgive her, but it’s too late. Torvald had shown his true nature and allegiance only to himself, and Nora decides to leave him and their two children (who were also his “property”), something quite radical for the time and still controversial in some societies. Recent events have brought about serious discussion about justice and the rights of women, and I guess the fact that it’s mostly about sex has been a factor in bringing it to the fore, but the underlying imbalance of power between men and women is the real issue, and Ibsen’s play deals with that in a brave for it’s time way that resonates more than ever now. Lit Moon’s rendering is spot on and as usual “different,” giving the whole thing a more contemporary, or timeless, reading. Excellent acting, direction and production, spare but rich. Coming in August to Center Stage Theater.
