"NORA" LIVES IN A DOLL-LIKE WORLD

The old saying goes that two people can keep a secret if one of them is
dead.  Nora Helmer has a secret of such proportions that it is capable
of destroying her marriage and thrusting her into society's disapproving
eye.  To meet Nora and discover her criminal
indiscretion, avail yourself of Westport Country Playhouse's "Nora,"
adapted by Ingmar Bergman from Henrik Ibsen's classic drama "A Doll's
House."  The original was first performed in Copenhagen, Sweden in 1879
and centers on a woman who appears on the surface
finally to possess  everything she has ever desired.





Until Saturday, August 2, you are invited into Nora's doll house life in
19th century Sweden, a life where she and her husband Torvald appear to
be the happiest of couples.  It is Christmas and by New Year's Day, he
will occupy the post as manager of the Cooperative
Bank, a position of prestige and prosperity. No longer will they have to
scrimp.  Nora can now indulge her fancies for all the pretty
possessions of life.  Liv Rooth embraces the role of Nora with both arms
open wide.





The moment is one of ecstasy, but it soon turns an ugly face.  Nora,
with the best of intentions, to restore Torvald to good health, entered
into a compromising relationship with a shady lawyer Krogstad (Shawn
Fagan) who now appears on her doorstep hinting
of blackmail.  He is about to be dismissed at the bank by Nora's husband
for his own less than honest dealings and he pleads with Nora to
intervene on his behalf with the morally upright Torvald, an
uncompromising Lucas Hall.





Illusions of a perfect life are shattered as Nora's old friend Christine
(Stephanie Janssen) appears and implores Nora to help her for old
time's sake.  When Christine is given Krogstad's bank position, it seems
Nora is doomed to be exposed for her illegal
actions, forging her father's name on legal documents.  The only one
clearly on her side, with great admiration for her, is Dr. Rank (LeRoy
McClain), who, although quite ill, is staunch in her defense.





This melodrama spins like a child's toy top in a dozen directions as
Nora's life fast forwards out of control.  As a possession of her
husband and not a wife and equal, she wakes up to her unhappy fate and
does the only thing she can.  David Kennedy keeps the
suspense building as Nora frantically tries to save her fragile life of
contentment.  The walls of her doll house eventually disintegrate around
her, a design conceit created by Kristen Robinson.





For tickets ($30 and up), call the Westport Country Playhouse, 25 Powers
Court, off Route 1, Westport at 203-227-4177 or 888-927-7529 or online
at www.westportplayhouse.org.  Performances are Tuesday
at 8 p.m., Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.





Let Henrik Ibsen and Ingmar Bergman and David Kennedy unite to tell a
tale of a woman who, in losing everything, discovers herself.