#adollshousepart2

[brothermarc7theatre]

“A Doll’s House, Part 2″ show #811

Lucas Hnath was on to something when he sat down to write his response play to Ibsen’s iconic work, A Doll’s House. A play which received outrage and protests, but also empowering reactions over time, now receives its fifteen-years-later examination when Nora returns to the home, and family, she walked out on. Palo Alto Players has taken on this incredible text by putting it in the hands of Jeffrey Lo, whose sturdy direction is stunning in his approach to the text with simplicity and a fully-realized concept. Executed by a flawless cast, this A Doll’s House, Part 2 is an evening at the Lucie Stern Theater you do not want to skip.

(Gabriela Grier (Nora) and MIchael Champlin (Torvald); Photo credit: Joyce Goldschmid)

Led by an incredibly strong Gabriela Grier, Nora returns to the living room once housing portraits, furniture, and décor, which made this her home, only to find it is now just a barren room with flower wall paper, a couple of chairs, a table, and a coat rack. Ms. Grier, however, fills the room with a palpable intensity that comes in waves of determination, bargaining, plotting, loving, groveling, and veracity. Ms. Grier delivers her dialogue, complete with enough monologues to warrant some much-needed sips from her soda can, with a commanding eloquence that makes Mr. Hnath’s lines sing with rhythm and intensity. Ms. Grier’s chemistry opposite her ex, Torvald, is dished right back by a stellar Michael Champlin. Mr. Champlin delivers his Torvald with a recitative gravitas, knowing when to play the part of successful man trying to keep the household together, and a betrayed husband who just wants to do the right thing. All seemingly calm, respectful roads of compromise and negotiation bubble to the explosive argument between Nora and Torvald in the final scene, handled with volatile composure by Ms. Grier and Mr. Champlin. Mr. Lo’s staging has his two romantic adversaries in all parts of the room, sitting, standing, and bringing an approachable energy to Torvald and Nora’s journey, as they catch up to what their reality is.

(Judith MIller (Anne-Marie) and Gabriela Grier (Nora); Photo credit: Joyce Goldschmid)

Judith Miller is standout as household nanny, Anne-Marie. Her physicality of the aged nanny matches her vocal delivery of some of the plays most astute and comical lines. Her warmth and care for Nora and Torvald juxtaposes her tough love turns when she simply has to put the two in their place. Katherine Hamilton endows Emmy, Nora and Torvald’s daughter, with elegance but a captivating manipulation, directed and delivered in lockstep with Ms. Grier’s Nora. The mother-daughter scene is a stirring duet of cat-and-mouse, and culminates in a satisfying manner.

(Gabriela Grier (Nora) and Katherine Hamilton (Emmy); Photo credit: Joyce Goldschmid)

There are all sorts of touches and staging nuances Mr. Lo has throughout the one-act play, all of which elevate Mr. Hnath’s text from living room drama to high-concept theatre. This is not a knock to Mr. Hnath, as his text is one that requires, or allows, the direction to make strong choices based on how near-conversational Mr. Hnath’s syntax runs. Christopher Fitzer’s gorgeous scenic design allows Mr. Lo and cast tons of playing room and for staging choices and chair placement to have a reason rather than functional, they actually push the plot and enhance the tone of each conversation. Carolyn A. Guggemos’ lighting design has pushes of dims and brights to draw attention to key lines, takes, and retorts between the four characters, and does so in quite the effective, very noticeable manner. Melissa Sanchez’s costume design is spot-on period, and her particular palette choice for Nora is a proper standout against the primary scenic color.

A Doll’s House, Part 2 is a play one approaches with a caution but intrigue, as Ibsen’s play is a standalone drama that has stood the test of time. However, the response Mr. Hnath has created is one that is equally applicable to audiences in 2020, and will surely stand the test of time as well. Fear not if you have never seen Ibsen’s A Doll’s House, for this play is its own entity, and Mr. Lo and company have ensured that you’re in for an enthralling time at the theater. Go see this show!

[ounceoftalent]

“It’s really hard to hear your own voice, and every lie you tell makes your voice harder to hear, and a lot of what we do is lying. Especially when what we want so badly from other people is for them to love us.” This show spoke straight to my soul and I will sorely miss it. ❤️🎭 #adollshousepart2 #knoxvilletheatre #theatre (at Flying Anvil Theatre) https://www.instagram.com/kerimcclain/p/Bw0QlD6HUsa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1xl3j7itjw8ae

[periodcorsets]

Congrats to designer David Zinn for his Tony nominated designs in "A Doll's House Part 2". We sent our c. 1890 Theodora corsets, with added busks, for use as their undergarments. Star Laurie Metcalf took home a Tony for Best Actress in a Leading Role in a Play. #periodcorsetsundercover #periodcorsetsinperformance #adollshouse #adollshousepart2 #davidzinn #tonyawards2017 #tonynominee #broadwaycostumes #broadwayshow #bestcostumeaward #lauriemetcalf #corset #theatrelife #goldentheatre (at Seattle, Washington)

[moonraker0022]

Stage seats? He wasn’t joking! @steppenwolfthtr is trying something new! • • • • Scenic design: Courtney O’Neill • Lighting design: Christine Binder • Costume design: Izumi Inaba • Sound design: Thomas Dixon • • • • #adollshousepart2 #chicago #steppenwolftheatre #chi #312 #theater #stageseats #yearofchicagotheatre #local (at Steppenwolf Theatre Company) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuaC0uqBIwP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=nde56k3r98hg

[bluecanarymade]

Kalegaroo is so loving Boston! She’s completely in love with the Huntington Theater Company! She popped in for a matinee of A Doll’s House Part 2 and just loved it! She joined their 35 below club. Sounds like someone’s planning on being back in Boston very soon! * * * #millenimals #kalegaroo #crochet #amigurumi #huntingtontheatercompany #adollshousepart2 #theater #matinee #love #hilarious @huntingtontheatreco Created by @bluecanarymade (at Huntington Theatre Company) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtZDToDBjOh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=dfuiidp7n214

[always-my-thief]

Any guesses what I'm doing? #adollshousepart2 #tonysweekend #pridebill (at A Doll's House, Part 2)

[mattressmacd]

Opening Friday, June 8th, for a limited run: the Central Florida premiere of Lucas Hnath’s award-winning A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2. Fifteen years after slamming the door closed on her life at the conclusion of Henrik Ibsen’s masterpiece, Nora Helmer returns to face the people she’s left behind in a new work that The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, W Magazine, and Time Out New York all called “the best play of the Broadway season.” “...[A] smart, funny, utterly engrossing play...” - The New York Times “Modern in its language, mordant in its humor, suspenseful in its plotting...the play judiciously balances conflicting ideas about freedom, love, and responsibility.” - Time Out New York Starring Joshua Peter Childers, Susan Gerdeman, Kelly Grounds, and Emily Sowell Directed by Matthew MacDermid The Stage at Thank You Five 4606 S. Clyde Morris Blvd, Unit 2N Port Orange, FL 32127 For tickets, call (386) 295-5699 or visit http://www.thankyoufive.org/theater.html Photo Credit: Mike Kitaif

[frontmezzjunkies]

@DollsHousePart2 #frontmezzjunkies revisited #LucasHnath's #ADollsHousePart2 And the new cast: #JulieWhite #StephenMcKinleyHenderson #JayneHoudyshell #ErinWilhelmi https://frontmezzjunkies.com/2017/09/11/a-dolls-house-part-2-revisited/ tw: frontmezzjunkie IG/tumblr/FB: @frontmezzjunkies (at Golden Theater)

[kaishacreates]

"You can't work on your career, you've got to work on your craft. The better you get at your craft, your career will start to fall in place." -Stephen McKinley Henderson _______________________________________ #GemFromTheStageDoor #adollshousepart2 #broadway #broadwaybound #kaihugs #kaihugsworld #AMDA (at A Doll's House, Part 2)

[theeclecticgentleman]

This a must see. Not only great acting, but relevant issues in today's world. #Broadway #adollshousepart2 #theatre #NYC

[rhythmstarfruitcitrus]

Tonight's show: A Doll's House, Part 2 #adollshousepart2 #broadway

[uptownbill]

Attending A Doll's House Part 2 #adollshousepart2 #lauriemetcalf #chriscooper #condolarashad #jaynehoudyshell by #lucashnath dir #samgold (at A Doll's House, Part 2)

[theatrefacades-blog]

Who will win Best Play at tonight’s Tony Awards?! Oslo - Lioncoln Center Theater Indecent - Cort Theatre A Doll’s House: Part 2 - John Golden Theatre Sweat - Studio 54 Theatre #oslo @indecentbway #indecent @dollshousepart2 #adollshousepart2 #sweatbway #bestplay @thetonyawards #tonyawards #tonyawards2017 #lincolncentertheater #corttheatre #johngoldentheatre #studio54theatre #broadway #theatre #newyork #nyc #theatrefacade #marquee #theatremarquee #design #graphics #graphicdesign #culture #nyculture #2016 #2017

[periodcorsets]

Congratulations to all of our Tony nominated clients! #periodcorsetsundercover #periodcorsetsinperformance #tonyawards2017 #tonyawardwinner #tonynominee #hellodolly #littlefoxes #ADollsHousePart2 #greatcometbway #bestcostumeaward #janegreenwood #davidzinn #palomayoung #santoloquasto (at Seattle, Washington)

[tamarabeck]

TONY! Tony! ToNY!

There is a tradition in which I pick the wrong play, musical, performer for the TONY win. Let's see how wrong I am this 2017 season after the June 11th results challenge my predictions: http://www.vevlynspen.com/2017/06/and-tony-goes-to-dont-let-fact-that-you.html