Arts Alive San Antonio

By JASMINA WELLINGHOFF, Editor

It’s been more than 142 years since Henrik Ibsen wrote his famous play, “A Doll’s House,” which ended with his protagonist, Nora, leaving her husband, Torvald, and slamming the door shut on their life together. Since that first dramatic exit, Ibsen’s play has been a staple of Euro-American theater, always praised as an early thespian manifesto against the oppression of women in traditional societies.

But we never found out how things turned out for the brave Nora. Until now. If you are curious about her fate, you’ll have to attend the Classic Theater of San Antonio’s new production titled “A Doll’s House, Part 2” which is opening March 10 at the San Antonio Botanical Garden. Written by contemporary playwright, Lucas Hnath, “Part 2” will offer some answers.

“People are just naturally curious about what might have happened,” said play director, Omar Leos. “When the book ends, when a play ends, when a movie ends, we always want the story to continue, if it was a good story that we got involved in. So, I think this author – Hnath – was just curious.

“I see this play as the exact opposite of Ibsen’s play,” explained Leos. “It’s a period piece but it’s more outrageous than the first (1879) play. “It will surprise people to hear how these characters talk and behave, and they speak in modern vernacular English.”

Hnath’s story picks up Nora’s life fifteen years after her dramatic departure from her husband’s house. She’s become a successful feminist writer and she’s back because she needs to get an official divorce from Torvald. The play then focuses on her interaction with not just Torvald, but also her now-grown daughter, Emmy, and the long-time nanny /housekeeper Anne Marie, who is the one to open the door when Nora’s shows up unexpectedly after so many years.

“I think she comes back thinking that it will be easy to get what she wants,” said Leos. “She hopes that the people she left behind have changed like she has changed in fifteen years. But she realizes that they have not changed and that makes it difficult for her to get the divorce. Her family members are angry and hurt; there’s a lot of emotion expressed, especially by the housekeeper and Torvald. They are mad at her but they also missed her.”

Well-known San Antonio actress, Anna Gangai, is excited to be Nora in this production. “I love it!” she said sincerely during our recent interview. “I have always wanted to play her (in Ibsen’s version) but have never had a chance. She’s such an empowered, strong, opinionated woman, she’s quite fun to play!”

Gangai also pointed out that you don’t have to know Ibsen’s play to understand and enjoy “Part 2.”

“This play can stand alone. “These characters will tell you who they are.”

Gangai describes Nora as being repentant for leaving but “in her own way?” “It is not the first thing out of her mind and mouth. “She has come back for a reason and if that reason had not presented itself, she says that she would have never come back. And she states clearly what she did and why she did it, and she makes a good case for it. She does apologize in a way, but she wants them to understand why she did it. I think she does it very well, although they may not want to hear it. Her goal in life is to change how people think about women and marriage. The strange thing about this show is that it was written by a man. I would like to read something that a woman may write as “Part 2.”

And Gangai promised that audiences would be engaged. It’s that kind of play, the kind that invites discussion. Even the actors and the director discussed motivation and perspective throughout the rehearsal period.

Experienced theater, film and TV actor, Vic Trevino, portrays Torvald, Katrice Buchanan is Emmy, the daughter, and Marisa Varela plays Anne Marie, the housekeeper.

Gangai expressed gratitude to UIW theater design professor, Margaret Mitchell, for providing the period costumes for her- or more specifically – “for the fabulous dresses I get to wear.” Mitchell also mentored young professional, Ruby Armendariz, who is the show’s designer.

All performances take place in an outdoor space at the Botanical Garden but the actors are miked and there shouldn’t be any problems with hearing them.
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“A Doll’s House Part 2”, opens 3/10 and runs through 3/27 at 7:30 p.m.; San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Place, 78209; tickets $24-$39 at www.classictheatre.org or call 210-410-9419; Bring your own folding chairs or blankets though some will be available for purchase.