Finishing Up A Doll's House

As we finished up A Doll's House today, we watched snippets of interviews with actors and directors.  Let's start with the snippet of the interview with Hattie Morahan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swl84kmXStw  We didn't watch this interview, but you might like it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaYUfGEIrlU&t=1s  You may also watch another video of the play itself: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4DRYK2h0n4  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tz4yY0jrrk

In class, we watched the snippet of the interview with Dominic Rowan, the actor who played Helmer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRf6gNeKDSQ  as well as another snippet of an interview with Nick Fletcher, the actor who played Krogstad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTy8MPNWYeI

Carrie Cracknell was the director: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEffJ6b38Ns  Here is a little more from her: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go4n7Gz5vIg

I'll finish with a link to Janet McTeer's discussion of an earlier production where she played Nora.  This production was staged in 1997: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZ8BhPrHb7U&t=247s

With these videos in mind, here are a few more.

-- how do these interviews with actors and even a director help you understand A Doll's House more?

-- which questions would you want to ask of an actor and/or director of A Doll's House?  Why?

-- is A Doll's House a feminist play?  why?  why not?

-- is A Doll's House a humanist play?  why?  why not?

-- what happens to the play if we say that it was not intended to be a feminist play?  why?

-- how might a female director approach A Doll's House?

-- what goes missing from the play if we say that it is purely a feminist play?

-- what goes missing from the play if we say that it was not meant to be a feminist play?

And here are a few more unrelated questions.

-- compare the role of women in A Doll's House with the role of women today.

-- to what extent should directors and actors respect an author's interpretation of his own play?  why?

-- if you were to stage A Doll's House at MC, what would be your theme or central idea?  why?

-- should MC's Theater Department stage A Doll's House?  why?  why not?

-- do we need a newer film version of A Doll's House?  why?  why not?

It's interesting that we haven't talked about modern dress versions of A Doll's House. I think that they are becoming less in fashion now.   Here are some pictures for you.

Act 3 of A Doll's House

Today we went over the first paper for ENGL 190 and then finished watching the 1973 version of A Doll's House (dir. Patrick Garland).   What amazing acting we saw!

Just a reminder that we will be at the Writing Center (HU 002) on Wednesday!

Here are a few questions for your journal.  Which one response will you expand into the first paper?

-- What do you think that the characters Nora and Torvald will do after the play ends?  Why?

-- Here are some ideas from other people:
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/stage/what-happened-to-nora-after-she-walked-out-20140806-1009o0.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-dolls-house-part-2-the-return-of-nora/

This is a podcast: http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2017/06/05/dolls-house-part-two

https://www.timeout.com/newyork/upstaged-blog/jonesing-for-nora-a-short-history-of-a-dolls-house-sequels
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/07/theater/newsandfeatures/nora-the-killer-doll.html

https://www.marxists.org/archive/eleanor-marx/1891/dolls-house-repaired.htm

Which seem most plausible to you?  Which seem implausible?  Why?

I've gone a little overboard.  Here are a few more questions!

-- What do you make of Nora's decision?  Is it credible to you?  Why?  Why not?

-- In Act 3, the film follows Ibsen's play very closely.  Why do you think that it is?

-- How does Act 3 follow from the previous two acts?

-- How do the previous two acts prepare one for Act 3?

-- What does it mean for a marriage to be a "true marriage"?  What do you think that Nora means?  Do you agree with her?  Why?  Why not?

-- Discuss the impact of Anthony Hopkins and Claire Bloom's acting on your understanding of Act 3.

-- Discuss the impact of the non-verbal elements in Act 3 (especially in the opening scenes) on your understanding of Act 3?

-- Compare the last scene of the version we saw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMa0ZARfZBM)  with these two versions.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GWNXrcxsoM (Janet McTeer as Nora and Owen Teale as Helmer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtSGp72hoXE&t=1s (Jane Fonda and David Warner play the couple)
This is not the final scene, but it is Hattie Morahan and Dominic Rowan's version:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByErzXGfGao&list=PLIaYH-bIMRr-W4nRxGPDsJtGXcv-Tr_wu&index=5

How does each actor(s) interpret the scene?  Which help you understand Ibsen's play more fully?  What are the strengths and weaknesses of each version?

Note, as Guardian drama critic Michael Billington points out, "Simon Stephens's new version [starring Hattie Morahan and Dominic Rowan] tilts the balance even further against Torvald by depriving him of his potentially redemptive last line."  Discuss the impact of taking out Torvald Helmer's last line.  Consider how Anthony Hopkins delivers it.

Act 2 of A Doll's House

I wish that I had been able to find a picture of Nora and Krogstad at his lodgings, but this is the best I could find.  Nonetheless, it is a good image for my entry on Act 2.  Interestingly, this is the part of the film where you see more differences between Ibsen's play and Christopher Hampton's screenplay.

Today we also went over some terminology: character (protagonist and antagonist), plot (narrative arc, foreshadowing, flashback, false closure), and central idea. 

For Monday, I'd like you to read Act 3.  If you don't have the book yet, here is a link to an online version of the play: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2542/2542-h/2542-h.htm
I will be going over the upcoming paper, too. 

Finally, we are now in HU 115!  Be sure to come to the new room on Monday!

And here are a few questions based on our readings and today's class.

-- Who is the antagonist in A Doll's House?  Why?

-- The Encyclopedia Britannica contains this definition of the dramatic unities:  Unities. Unities, in drama, the three principles derived by French classicists from Aristotle's Poetics; they require a play to have a single action represented as occurring in a single place and within the course of a day. These principles were called, respectively, unity of action, unity of place, and unity of time.  How does Ibsen's play follow these unities?  How does it not follow these unities?  Should the film have followed these unities more closely?  Why?  Why not?

-- Discuss the differences between Ibsen's play and the 1973 film.  How do they affect your understanding of A Doll's House?  How do they distract you?

-- How did the scenes we saw today affect your view of Nora?

-- How did the scenes we saw today affect your view of Nora and Helmer's marriage?

-- How did the scenes we saw today affect your view of Krogstad?  of Mrs. Linde?

-- How did the scenes we saw today affect your view of Dr. Rank?

-- Discuss the impact of the actors' body language, facial expressions, and relative position on your understanding of the characters' relationship and the plot in A Doll's House.

-- Discuss the impact of camera angles, shot composition, and lighting on your understanding of the characters' relationship and the plot in A Doll's House.

If you need to refresh your memory, here is a link to the film that we saw:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCEI69W877c

I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to say!

Act 1/Opening Scenes of A Doll's House

Today we began to watch the 1973 version of A Doll's House starring Claire Bloom and Anthony Hopkins and to discuss Ibsen's play.  We focused on the main characters (Nora, Helmer, Mrs. Linde, Krogstad, and Dr. Rank).  I provided some historical context and introduced the concept of presentism, "an attitude towards the past dominated by present-day attitudes and experiences" (Merriam-Webster). 

For Friday, I would like you to finish up Act 1 and continue to Act 2.  If you don't have the book yet, here is a link to an online version of the play: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2542/2542-h/2542-h.htm

Here are some questions to respond to.  Some are based on our reading; others are based on class discussion.  I might as well start with the obvious one although we have so much to discuss.

In a recent version of A Doll's House (see above), Afro-British actor Steve Toussaint plays the role of Dr. Rank.  How might this casting choice affect your understanding of the play and Dr. Rank as a character?  How might it affect your understanding of Dr. Rank and Nora's relationship?  Why do you think that director Carrie Cracknell might have chosen to cast Mr. Toussaint as Dr. Rank?  If you would like more information on this topic, here is the NY Times review of this production: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/28/theater/a-dolls-house-with-hattie-morahans-frantic-nora.html  As this was originally a British production, I am adding a link to the Guardian's review: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2012/jul/10/dolls-house-young-vic-review  I'll include an interview with Mr. Toussaint: http://www.westendframe.com/2014/01/interview-steve-toussaint.html
 Here are some trailers from this production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPf5M1m69aA  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOuFocD10hU&t=1s

Let's move on!

Now that you've had a chance to see some of the film version, what does it add to your reading of the play?  What does it take away?  Consider the differences between a film and a play.

How does the historical context that I've provided help you understand the play more?

Why is it worth reading and watching A Doll's House in 2018?

Now that you've had a chance to watch the play, what does it add to your understanding of the characters and their relationships?

Now that you've had a chance to watch the play, what does it add to your understanding of the setting?

Discuss the images from other productions below.  What do they tell us about Nora and Helmer?  about the state of their marriage in Act 1?  about the scene where Nora practices the tarantella?

Choose a scene or interaction from A Doll's House.  How does it shed light on the play?  on Nora and her relationships with others?  on Nora and her dilemma/issues? 

How does Act 1 lay a foundation for the play?

How does Act 2 build on Act 1's foundation?

I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing what you have to say!

Welcome to ENGL 190 -- Spring 2018!

It was wonderful to meet everyone this morning.  I am looking forward to working with you this semester as we sample some literature.

The first reading for Wednesday will be the first act of A Doll's House.  If you don't have your book yet, here is a link to an online version that is out of copyright:  https://www.gutenberg.org/files/2542/2542-h/2542-h.htm

The translation is a little different, but the font seems to be very readable.  We will also be watching some scenes from the 1973 film version starring Claire Bloom and Anthony Hopkins if the computer permits.  Here is a link to the opening scene from the film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwnBukRiRJI  As I mentioned in class, that same year Jane Fonda starred in a competing film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjX-u7yAWDs&t=1s

Let's start with a few opening questions for your journals:

-- What jumped out at you as you read Act 1 of A Doll's House?  Why?

-- Many of you have read Shakespeare.  How is Ibsen's play similar to Shakespeare?  How is it different?  

-- Have you been to a play in DC, at your high school, or elsewhere (including NYC or London)?  What was it like to watch a live play?

-- In class, we went over a few characteristics of drama/theater: character, plot, setting, central idea, and stage directions.  How did they help you understand A Doll's House a little more?

-- How would you describe Nora and Helmer's marriage?  Why?

-- How would you describe Nora as a person?  Helmer as a person?  Why?

-- Do you watch TV shows about the past (Masterpiece Theater, Game of Thrones, etc.)?  How do they help you understand Nora and Helmer's world?

-- How does watching the brief film clips that I've included help you understand Ibsen's play a little more?

Gillian Anderson has also played Nora recently as has British actor Hattie Morahan.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you have to say!

Prof. Szlyk