A Doll's House Captivates Audiences
By Nora Lu ‘29
Last week, Milton’s Studio Theatre came alive with a magnificent production of A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, a Norwegian realist playwright. Opening on Thursday November 16 at 7:00pm and continuing on Friday and Saturday at the same time, the play featured a small but talented cast, including Madeleine Wu ‘27 as protagonist Nora Helmer and John Hackett ‘26 as her husband Torvald Helmer, alongside Aava Darvish ‘27, Melody Chen ‘26, Davey Glazer ‘28, and Tyla Tsang ‘28. The performance touched upon themes of identity, marriage, and women' s struggle against societal expectations.
Ibsen’s 1879 play tells the story of Nora Helmer, a woman who finds herself stuck in a constraining marriage and begins to question her domestic roles as a wife and mother. In the past, she had secretly forged her father’s signature in order to obtain a loan to save her husband’s life. However, when a blackmailer threatens to expose her, this secret threatens to upend her marriage. As she navigates this scandal, tensions rise between her and Torvald as she begins to explore and finally understand her own identity. This play was a part of Milton’s long-standing performing arts tradition of 1212 Productions, which began over fifty years ago in the since-renovated Warren 1212 room. Initially, these plays, designed to adapt challenging material for intimate settings with small audiences, were mere play readings, but they have since become more technically complex, with many of the trappings of a mainstage Milton show. In the half century since the introduction of the 1212, these semiannual productions have moved from Warren to Wigglesworth Hall, near the current location of Cox Library, and finally to the Studio Theatre in the Kellner Performing Arts Center.
For the cast, the experience of acting in A Doll’s House was both challenging and rewarding. Madeleine Wu ‘27, who played Nora Helmer, commented on the intense rehearsal process: “We had two hours of rehearsal every day and four-hour rehearsals on Wednesdays,” she shared. As a newcomer to theatre, Wu noted that the rehearsal process required much more than she expected, but in the end, she thought that “the play was such an experience,” and she was “so grateful for the support and guidance from” co-directors Mr. Peter Parisi and Vivienne Mockenhaupt ‘27.
Wu also emphasized her character’s experience of oppression and belittlement by men, a poignant theme for women throughout history. “Even though I’m not married and don’t live in 19th-century Norway, I can still relate to [Nora’s struggles],” she explained. “It’s really devastating that I can relate to this story that Ibsen wrote so long ago.”
Audience members expressed being captivated by the show and inspired by the themes presented. Lily Hayashi ‘29 shared her thoughts after the play: “The ending was the most memorable moment for me because it wasn’t the typical ‘happy ending,’” she noted. Judging from the title of the play, Hayashi expected a lighter story, but found herself moved by the play’s intense and serious themes afterwards. “I learned that under the surface level, a lot of people are going through things that are hidden, and they have a lot of hidden pasts. I also learned that it takes sacrifice to resurface the parts that were buried.” Jaydon Sun ‘29 echoed Hayashi’s praise: “The final scene was absolute cinema, and it was super realistic.” He further remarked on the play’s realism: “I expected it to be about a mystery or fantasy, but the themes on society were amazing.”
Both the cast and the audience emphasized how important the Performing Arts department is at Milton Academy. “I think [these performances] showcase a lot of student talent,” Hayashi remarked, further adding that many students like herself may not have realized that their peers were involved in theatre until they saw the play. As a part of the Class IV follies, Hayashi added that the play “inspired [her] to embody [her] character more” and “be dramatic and big with what [she does],” encouraging her to continue pursuing theatre in high school.
Sun further commented on A Doll’s House’s emotional profundity, stating that “the show was a roller coaster of emotions. The actors did absolutely amazing to bring these emotions from the historical background and context into the light for us audience members to see and experience.” Wu echoes this sentiment, describing the unique experience that live theatre provides for both the cast and the audience. “There’s something really special about the actor’s point of view, to be able to watch your reactions and feel the intimacy of your presence in the audience.”
As Milton’s 2025-2026 theatrical calendar continues rolling along, spectacular productions such as A Doll’s House remind us of the importance of storytelling in understanding the world around us and how it came to be. Looking ahead to the rest of the fall season, Class IV’s From Here to Somewhere as well as the musical Hadestown will deliver more inspiring stories to engage our community.