The Adams State University Faculty Lecture Series and “enGENDERing Change: The ASU Gender Theatre Project” present “The Door Slam Heard Around the World: Exploring the Social and Cultural Legacy of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House” by John Taylor, Ph.D., professor of theatre, at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, in the SLV Federal Bank Main Stage Theatre.
In 1879, playwright Henrik Ibsen’s provocative play ushered in the modern age of theatre. It sparked controversy when its lead character, Nora Helmer, left her husband and children as she embarked on a journey of self-discovery. With its “door slam heard around the world”, the play started a debate about the role of men and women in marriage and ignited a call for equal rights for women.
This fast-paced, entertaining, interactive talk will include a brief history of the play including the controversies surrounding it as well as its lasting impact. “Generations of students who have studied the play and audiences who have watched it in performance have argued about Nora and her husband Torvald and what they think happened to her after she left her family. Ultimately, these discussions have expanded beyond the play to asking fundamental questions about what it means to be a fully realized human being,” said Taylor.
Fifteen years after directing “A Doll’s House” at Adams State, Taylor chose to direct the new play “A Doll’s House, Part 2”, which takes place 15 years after the original play ended. During the lecture, the two lead characters, Nora and Torvald, played by Hannah Eubanks and Brandon Billings, will answer questions from the audience. “It will be a fun opportunity to ask the questions people have debated for decades and audiences have rioted and protested about,” Taylor said. Knowledge about play is not needed to fully enjoy the lecture.
This lecture is part of the “enGENDERing Change” project. Combining the arts, education, activism, and community engagement, the project affirms the continuing need to fight for gender equity, to champion an individual’s right to self-determination, and to foster the extraordinary diversity which enriches our community. It includes the stage production of “A Doll’s House, Part 2”, a national juried art exhibition, and an All Rise Now Rally beginning at 12 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2, in front of Richardson Hall.
For more information, please email Taylor at jhtaylor@adams.edu.
