Review- A Doll’s House Part 2
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Reviewed by Krystina Bailey Brawer-In the highly anticipated Pasadena Playhouse production of A Doll’s House, Part II by Lucas Hnath (Red Speedo, The Christians)—a modern written continuation of the original play A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, set in the late 1800s—the lead character, Nora Helmer, leaves her marriage and family in pursuit of her independence. As we step into this play, set 15 years after Nora’s departure, Hnath highlights the original reasons for her exit.
Starring actress Elizabeth Reaser (Twilight, The Haunting of Hill House, Grey’s Anatomy) as Nora, the audience can tell she enjoyed crafting this iconic role. Her expertise in delivering lengthy monologues—while taking a sip of water to replenish her palate at just the right moments—made this production a carefully crafted one.
After living several years away as an independent woman, Nora is surprised to find out that she is still legally married to her husband. Torvald is played by Jason Butler Harner—The Lincoln Lawyer, Ozark. He had promised to file for divorce when she left. Since, at the time, filing for divorce wasn’t easy for a woman, she decides to take matters into her own hands. She pays a visit to the home she once shared. She wants her husband to fulfill his promise.
Met by Anne Marie (played by actress Kimberly Scott—Bob Hearts Abishola), the house caretaker who is also surprised by Nora’s sudden arrival, Scott’s comedic timing aligns well with Reaser’s apparent wit in discussions about Nora’s reasons for returning, as she alludes to the hopeful changes awaiting women in the future. A broken Torvald suddenly walks in, not even recognizing his long-lost wife, thinking she is a friend of Anne Marie. He still holds a grudge over Nora’s abrupt exit and makes it clear he isn’t going to make it easy for her to get what she wants.
After conversations with Anne Marie about faking her death and needing her daughter’s help to convince Torvald to agree to this master plan, Nora is met with an unexpected response. Her daughter Emmy (played by actress Kahyun Kim—St. Denis Medical, Cocaine Bear) delivers a riveting performance as she explains what it’s like to grow up in a broken home and how she refuses to follow in her mother’s footsteps, no matter what comes with the journey of being married.
After an aggressive confrontation with Torvald and the courthouse clerk, Nora successfully has her one wish granted. Ultimately, she decides she doesn’t need the divorce. And with that, she shuts the door again for the second slam heard worldwide.
The performances were brilliant. The show felt classic under Jennifer Chang’s direction (Primary Trust, What Became of Us). It included subtle modern touches that never distracted from the play’s overall message.
See A Doll’s House, Part II at the Pasadena Playhouse before it ends in June!
- Written by actress and author: Krystina Bailey Brawer
- Instagram: @krystinabaileybrawer
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5102835/
- X: @KrystinaShanel
- Website: Actorswhatyouneed.com
