Obie Award-winning director Lee Breuer stages the work on a dollhouse set, infusing Ibsen's tragedy with a comic edge by casting male actors whose heights range from 3'4" to 4'5", while the female characters are played by actresses nearly 6' tall. DollHouse plays a limited run through March 8 at the Brooklyn venue.
Mabou Mines DollHouse, adapted by Lee Breuer and Obie-winning actress Maude Mitchell, began its life at St. Ann's five years ago, prior to embarking on a worldwide tour. The St. Ann's return engagement marks the final stop for the production.
In DollHouse, press notes state, "The small-minded husband Torvald (Mark Povinelli) fits fine in the tiny furniture, while wife Nora (Maude Mitchell) must squeeze into the dollhouse setting. Nothing dramatizes Ibsen's patriarchal point more clearly than the image of these little men dominating and commanding women one and a half times their size."
The complete cast includes Maude Mitchell (Nora Helmer), Mark Povinelli (Torvald Helmer), Kristopher Medina (Nils Krogstad), Janet Girardeau (Kristine Linde), Ricardo Luis Gil (Dr. Rank), Margaret Lancaster (Helene), Hannah Kritzeck (Emmy Helmer), Isabel Yourman (Ivar Helmer), Sophie Birkedlalen/Eilert Sundt (Bob Helmer), as well as Jessica Weinstein, Eamonn Farrell, Ilia Dodd Loomis and Nic Novicki.
The production features a score by Eve Beglarian and choreography by Eamonn Farrell and Erik Liberman. DollHouse's silent movie-style underscoring is performed live by Ning Yu and Susan Tang. Completing the design team are Narelle Sissons (set design), Mary Louise Geiger (lighting design), Meganne George (costume design), Jane Catherine Shaw (puppetry) and Edward Costa (sound design).
Tickets may be purchased by phoning (718) 254-8779 or online at St.Anns.
St. Ann's Warehouse is located at 38 Water Street (between Main and Dock St.) in Brooklyn, New York.