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A Doll's House.

By Henrik Ibsen, in a version by Frank McGuinness.

Theatre Royal, Winchester.

May 13 - 17.

WRITTEN initially in 1879 by Ibsen, updated to a 1950s setting for this production by Northern Stage, the moral dilemmas and complexity of marriage which A Doll's House highlight still persist today.

The programme notes reveal a true story that prompted the play and they make a compelling read. This happened long before the modern idea of Women's Lib or Fathers4Justice or civil partnerships, but the law regarding relationships is shown to be an ass by the five characters.

This particular doll's house is set in a glass house and gradually we see the brittle fragility of Torvald and Norma Helmer's marriage shattered.

Initially, Tilly Gaunt as a spendthrift, songbird, squirreling Nora made me squirm, John Kirk as the controlling Torvald made me wince, Chris Myles as the creepy Krogstad made me recoil, Karen Traynor as Kristine Linde made me shrug and James Woolley as Dr Rank left me unmoved.

But as the characters' claws and flaws slowly unveiled and over two-and-a-half-hours we learned who was manipulating whom and why, our feelings altered and sympathies shifted. We are reminded that first impressions do not always make the soundest judgements and that life has many other short sharp lessons to teach.

Communication and expectation should be among the first items addressed on any wedding list or exploitation may eliminate them both.

Brian Mustoe

4:35pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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