Oscar winner Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) and Arian Moayed deliver marvelous acting performances in “A Doll’s House” on Broadway, which is performed at New York’s Hudson Theatre.
Chastain stars as the sheltered housewife Nora Helmer opposite her luminous acting partner, Tony nominee Arian Moayed. This production was eloquently directed by Jamie Lloyd.
Despite having a minimalistic set, it in rich in the theatrical experience, and Lloyd is able to introduce the Henrik Ibsen classic drama to a younger generation with a refreshing yet radical modernized version.
Arian Moayed is convincing as her banker husband Torvald Helmer. The remaining cast members include Jesmille Darbouze as Kristine Linde, Tasha Lawrence as Anne-Marie, Michael Patrick Thornton as Dr. Rank, and Grammy winner Okieriete Onaodowan as Nils Krogstad. They are all able to breathe fresh life into legendary Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s characters.
Chastain truly captures the conscience of Nora, and she takes her audience through an intense journey of her psyche all while sitting on the chair for the majority of the play. It is a bold anthem of a woman’s emancipation from a failing marriage, and this is the quintessential theatrical role that Chastain was born to play.
When “A Doll’s House” first premiered back in 1879, it was able to thrust drama firmly into the modern age. Now, almost a century and a half later, this timeless play is as relevant and as shocking as ever.
Without giving too much away, this revival has an ending (hint: “door slam”) that no theatergoer would want to miss (done with a clever twist), and it will leave the fans in their seats asking themselves questions, and sparking discussion topics about contemporary relationships.
The Verdict
Overall, Jessica Chastain and Arian Moayed were able to embody the roles of Nora and Trovald Helmer in a controlled, mesmerizing, and commanding manner without upstanding any of their fellow ensemble actors. Everyone on stage was able to sustain the viewers’ attention for its entire duration.
This revival stands out for its rawness and authenticity, all while staying true to the original Ibsen play. Compliments to screenwriter Amy Herzog and director Jamie Lloyd for their artistic vision, which will strike a chord with audiences. This revival of “A Doll’s House” on Broadway garners 4.5 out of 5 stars.
