MONTREAL January 2006 – In a season that sees The Leanor and Alvin Segal Theatre hosting three Artistic Directors from around the country and across the pond, The Segal’s AD Bryna Wasserman is eager to start 2006 with Peter Hinton, newly appointed Artistic Director of English Theatre at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, at the helm of his adaptation of A Doll House. Joining Cabaret’s Steven Schipper (Manitoba Theatre Centre) and The Importance of Being Earnest’s Ben Barnes (The Abbey, Ireland’s national theatre), Hinton will undoubtedly continue to raise the bar; offering Montreal audiences an inspired and memorable theatrical experience.

Nora Helmer is a vibrant young housewife forced to save her husband Torvald's life by arranging for a loan without his knowledge and by forging a signature. The crime sets into motion a series of events that call the very validity of their marriage into question. Nora ultimately makes a controversial choice that continues to be debated by audiences to this day.

Peter Hinton is one of English Canada’s most respected directors, dramaturges and playwrights. He has directed over 70 productions of classical texts, operas and new plays, including all three parts of his trilogy The Swanne for the Stratford Festival of Canada where he served as Artistic Associate. Hinton is honoured to take part in the Ibsen centennial celebration with this production at The Segal Theatre, “A Doll House is remarkably fresh, dangerous and immediate, sexual, vibrant and alive. It is completely my kind of play - subtle, dangerous and resiliently committed to forging a new life. It is a play that for me is about rebirth: a spiritual 'awakening' within the modern world: its possibility, difficulty and danger.”

The bright, collaborative cast members recreating this classic are: Andreas Aspergis as Torvald Helmer (last seen in Porte Parole’s Seeds), Chip Chiupka as Nils Krogstad (also last seen in Porte Parole's Seeds), Clare Coulter as Mrs. Linde (a noted Canadian actor now Montreal resident), Alison Darcy as Nora Helmer (a sought after actor performing in many of this city’s companies), John Gilbert as Dr. Rank (a seasoned contributor to both Shaw and Stratford Festivals) and Debra Kirshenbaum as Annie (now back in her hometown, this marks Debra’s second Ibsen endeavour with Peter Hinton). The creative team includes such respected Montrealers as set and costume designer Eo Sharp, lighting designer David Perreault-Ninacs and sound designer Troy Slocum. Stage management includes returning favourites, Todd Bricker and Melanie St-Jacques.

Commonly performed under A Doll’s House, Peter Hinton chose the present title as a more accurate translation of the original Norwegian. He also felt that A Doll's House implied that Nora was the sole doll, whereas A Doll House suggests that all the players are like dolls in the house.

88.5 CBC Radio One proudly presents Sunday-@-the-Saidye with Errol Durbach
Join us for another season of intimate conversation and riveting lectures as The Segal excitedly welcomes Errol Durbach, Professor of Theatre Studies at the University of British Columbia. His publications on the plays of Henrik Ibsen include Ibsen the Romantic and A Doll’s House: Ibsen’s Myth of Transformation. Beginning just a few short years ago, Sunday-@-the-Saidye has evolved into a must experience event. Make Sunday mornings a day to really look forward to in the weekly calendar.

Monday Night Talkbacks presented by Pratt and Whitney Canada
As usual following the play, some of the actors and/or designers will remain on stage to take questions from the audience. Monday Night Talkbacks provides an intimate opportunity for audiences to engage up close and personal with the personalities bringing first class professional English language theatre to Montreal. Combined with lower rates for this evening, Monday night performances have become an outstanding package that true theatre buffs cannot resist.

Presented as part of the Sun Life Financial Performing Arts section of the Montreal High Lights Festival.

Tickets and Media Information

Previews: February 5 1:30 pm
February 6, 7, 8 8:00 pm

Sunday-@-the-Saidye: February 5, 11:00 am

Opening Night: Thursday, February 9, 8:00pm

Run: February 5-26

Performances:
Monday-Thursday, 8:00pm
Saturday, 8:30
Sunday, 7:00 pm
Matinées: Wednesdays, 1:00pm / Sundays, 2:00 pm

Box Office: (514) 739-7944
5170 Cote St. Catherine Rd.
www.saidyebronfman.org
Admission 790-1245 www.admission.com