Review by Joe Siegel

Nora Helmer makes a difficult choice at the conclusion of “A Doll’s House,” a spellbinding drama which opened September 18.

Director Mark Prokes brilliantly realizes playwright Henrik Ibsen’s vision of a morally questionable universe. There are no heroes or villains in this story. Just flawed human beings who struggle to find meaning in their lives.

Michelle Katherine Wylie is Nora, a woman living a supposedly carefree existence. Nora has an immaculate home and her husband Torvald (Jim Cannizzaro) is a bank manager.

“I’m so happy to be alive,” Nora says.

Yet from the very beginning of the play, we see that something is very wrong with Nora’s marriage. Torvald is controlling and possessive. He treats Nora like something he owns. Torvald chastises her for spending too money. He criticizes what Nora eats. When they plan to attend a New Year’s Eve party, Torvald picks a dress for her to wear.

Nora is visited by a friend, Christine (Melanie Carrazzo), a widow whose life is “dreadfully empty.” She later lands a job at Torvald’s bank.

The plot hinges on a forged signature Nora put on a document in order to secure a loan. Nora was worried about Torvald’s health and borrowed the money for an extended Italian vacation.

The only problem is Nora led Torvald to believe her late father gave them the money for the trip.

Nils Krogstad (Michael Pugliese), who works for Torvald, is distressed when he loses his job – to Christine. He then blackmails Nora in an effort to win his job back.

Nora is reluctant to help Krogstad and fears the damage the truth will do to her marriage if it is revealed.

Steven Taschereau plays Doctor Rank, a close friend of Nora and Torvald, a man afflicted with polio. He makes a shocking confession to Nora.

Erin Coughlin Tower is the family nurse, as well as a confidante for Nora.

“A Doll’s House” is about the secrets we hold, the lies we tell others and ourselves, and the moral choices which can provide salvation – or damnation.

The story is a bit of a slow burn, but as the various plot strands are untangled, the dilemma Nora finds herself in results in a choice she has to make.

In an exquisitely sad scene, Nora tells Torvald the truth about her feelings for him and the life they’ve shared together.

Wylie is captivating as she shows Nora’s climactic transformation from a child-like figure to a woman coming to terms with reality – for perhaps the first time in her life. It’s a terrific performance.

Cannizzaro effectively conveys Torvald’s puzzlement and lack of understanding toward Nora. Torvald is a selfish man, preoccupied with his own wants and needs. He cherishes his power over others and refuses to bend.

Cannizzaro and Wylie both display such raw emotion as Nora’s illusion of a perfect world shatters into pieces.

Pugliese, last seen in “The Tempest,” exhibits a subtle type of menace as Krogstad, who could be called the villain of the story. As written, the character is acting from a deep sense of betrayal. It’s a richly nuanced portrayal from Pugliese.

“A Doll’s House” is set in the 1950s, an era when men made the money and women were expected to stay home and care for the children. Our society is still dominated by the patriarchy. Men control the levers of business and government.

How many women are imprisoned in their lavishly decorated homes, living lives of emptiness and self-delusion? Will they ever find the strength to escape?

Nora Helmer learns to break free. The reasons she has for doing so are part of what makes this play such a powerful experience.

A Doll’s House runs through September 27. Roundabout Productions. Performances at Coelho Middle School, 99 Brown St., Attleboro, MA. Performance runs 2 hours, 25 minutes with intermission. For tickets, visit https://www.roundaboutproductions.org.

Michelle Katherine Wylie and Jim Cannizzaro – courtesy of Abigail Bradie

Michelle Katherine Wylie and Michael Pugliese