Production Concept Statement Paper: A Doll’s House

A Doll’s House is a three-act play in prose written by Henrik Ibsen. As a Broadway producer of the play A Doll’s House, I need to pitch my idea for the play to the investors. The play helps to criticize marriage norms of the 19th century, but it can be applied to contemporary couples as well. Assuming I have an unlimited budget, and I may do anything I want, I will include video projections/digital media in my conception.

I will set the play in present day New York. I have chosen to approach the production from the perspective of America in the 21-st century.  I decided to choose this approach because today young people violate marriage norms. According to Everett L. Worthington, “when we enter marriage with different plans for marriage, conflict is inevitable to the extent that we try to control our spouse without being willing to accept reciprocal influence”(43).  I believe that this approach will allow the audience to see pressing problems of our life and the problems associated with marriage, and find the proper solutions. I will be focused on the representation of societal norms, according to which “marriage depends on romance and mutual attraction and that happiness is each person’s right, that divorce is a valid way to increase our happiness, is a marriage is troublesome” (43). The protagonist of the play, Nora, leaves her husband and her three children because she has a great desire to discover herself and better understand the meaning of her life. I will take into consideration Ibsen’s belief that “a woman cannot be herself in modern society,” and that the society of 19-th century was “an exclusively male society, with laws made by men and with prosecutors and judges who assess feminine conduct from a masculine standpoint” (qtd. in Siddall 54). I will apply his ideas to contemporary society, the society of 21-st century. I believe that the production will demonstrate some features of feminist movement. However, in Ibsen’s play, “Nora does not use her exit to make a feminist point”(Siddall 54). I will try to represent Nora as a feminist who wants to be happy and independent. Nora leaves her house and her family like a self-confident leader of a moral movement. Nora rejects the role of a mother and a wife. She is focused on her personal growth and professional career. She wants to become a successful woman. She does not lose faith in her moral rights. This is the production’s tag line. The play A Doll’s House should be produced because it teaches us the major principles of morality and provides an insight into the psychology of marriage and interpersonal communication.

Special attention will be paid to the sets, costumes, lights, and sound because these elements affect the overall impression of the audience. The world of Nora must look like a doll’s house. The music should be classical. I have chosen Bach’s composition St. John Passion, Tchaikovsky’s symphonies, and Robert Schumann’s symphonies. Classical music affects human emotions and creates the proper atmosphere for the audience. Music evokes excitement, especially in the scenes when Nora has an emotional stress, pain and sufferings. All three acts will be set in a room. A large room, with paintings on the walls, a sofa, two bookcases, a wardrobe, a mirror and some other pieces of furniture will create a positive atmosphere. The room will symbolize Nora’s inner world. The lights will be used to deepen the overall impression. Due attention should be paid to the quality of light. The costumes should emphasize the main characters’ traits of personality, resonating with each other and suggesting that they refer to the same time and society. Costumes will be a big part of the show, as they convey both positive and negative emotions, depending on the scene of the play. Costumes will be made from velvet, wool and silk, trimmed with silver and gold.  I will create professional quality special effects to deepen the audience’s impression: several pulleys for the backdrops and unique curtain scenery.

My production will be set on a traditional proscenium stage because this space allows shifting scenes and it is the best form for side lightning possibilities. The space will affect the performance as my goal is to represent Nora’s world, her inner feelings and suffering through the elements of environment.

I can select actors from TV and film for the major roles in my production. Emily Jean (Emma) Stone will be invited to perform the part of Nora, Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio to perform the part of Torvald Helmer (Nora’s husband), Jake Gyllenhaal to perform the part of  Krogstad, Scarlett Johansson to perform the part of Mrs. Linde, Robert De Niro to perform the part of Dr. Rank, three children to perform the parts of Bob, Emmy, and Ivar. These actors and actresses fit the physical appearance that I want in the main characters of my production. Besides, most of these actors have performed similar roles in the past and I think they would be good in the roles of A Doll’s House.

I believe this play should be funded and produced on Broadway because it is very effective and will impress the audience. Moreover, I believe the audiences will pay $100+ dollars to go see this particular production because of the well-structured cast and the widely discussed theme of play.  Undoubtedly, the play has a particular social resonance now as the issues discussed in the play are of great importance for today’s audience. The play offers escapism that works by keeping reality at bay. I argue that the investment in my production will be good.

 

Works Cited

Siddall, S. H. Henrik Ibsen: A Doll’s House. Humanities-Ebooks, 2008. Print.

Worthington, E. L. Marriage Counseling: A Christian Approach to Counseling Couples. InterVarsity Press, 1993. Print.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 29, 2024]
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