A Doll's House review: Rachel O'Riordan's first Lyric show breathes new life into Ibsen

1/10
Jessie Thompson @jessiecath12 September 2019

Great things are set to come from Rachel O’Riordan’s time as artistic director of Lyric Hammersmith, judging by this flying start. Taking over from Sean Holmes after six years at Sherman Theatre in Wales, she breathes new life into Ibsen’s proto-feminist classic while raising urgent questions about today.

It’s a smart and often witty adaptation from Tanika Gupta, in which the action is transposed from Norway to 19th-century Calcutta; Nora Helmer is now Niru, the wife of an English colonial bureaucrat called Tom. Set in the courtyard of their home, it remains close to the source material, with Lily Arnold’s vivid set putting the famous door that slammed centre stage like Chekhov’s gun. But adding the dimension of colonialism raises issues that feel stingingly close to the bone; what happens when old-fashioned English entitlement to power and control falls away? And where might an empire state of mind still be leading us today?

Anjana Vasan is exceptionally good as Niru, who has learned instinctively that she can weaponise her femininity, pretending to be frivolous to distract from the more complicated truth. As those around her continue to underestimate her – you lose count of the amount of times she’s asked if she understands – she uses her eyes to get what she wants, to charm or to plead.

And Elliot Cowan is excellent as buttoned-up Tom, striding around in a three-piece suit even though the climate leaves him sweating. He fetishises Niru, calling her “my little Indian princess”, but also expects her to adopt his views and religion. He’s a walking white man’s saviour complex, who turns to hot-headed volatility when he realises his power is running out. A play famed for its feminism here ends up being as much about broken masculinity.

An overly long second half makes things sag slightly in the middle, but otherwise O’Riordan and Gupta’s innovative re-working of one of theatre’s most performed plays feels as thrilling as it is politically astute.

Until October 5 (lyric.co.uk; 020 8741 6850)

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