Staging

Music

There were music used in this play to build up tension. The music used is usually slow and dark, and it was used to make scenes more mysterious or scary.

Lighting

Throughout the whole play, the lighting is very soft, and the whole apartment seems dark.

Doors

The whole play is set in Helmer's apartment. There are not much moving in this play, and everything seems very statical. This is because most of the major events happened in the past, and in A Doll's House, the secrets of the past are being revealed little by little. Although the setting is in Helmer's apartment, the characters move from one room to another, which changes the mood of the scene. For example, when Mrs. Linde comes to visit, Torvald goes back in the Study, and Nora guides Mrs. Linde to a different room. This is as though every character is allocated a room, which they all feel comfortable being in. Nora somewhat divides the characters in different rooms, but she also changes the room or shuts the door when there is a change in mood, or change in her emotions.

• When Nora reveals Mrs. Linde about her secret, Nora takes Mrs. Linde to a different room.
• When Krogstad comes for the second time to talk to Nora, she takes him to the kitchen.
• When Torvald reads the letter about Nora's secret, he chases her. Nora runs to a different room, but he catches her and shuts the door.

When Torvald shuts the door, this may signify how Nora is trapped emotionally, and cannot escape. As soon as Torvald reads the second letter and calms down, Nora's feelings are released. They move to a different room and talk seriously about what they should do next.

The play ends with A door slams off. This may be significant because throughout the play, Nora is the one moving around the rooms. It might be a sign to the end of her doll-like life with Torvald, or it might represent the division between Torvald and Nora. This play ended with Nora leaving the apartment because there was a change in her emotion, so great that there was no room in the apartment which she could feel comfortable in (not comfortable in the doll's house) and had to leave and find a place which will suit her.

The play begins with Nora entering the apartment as well. She enters the door and leaves the same door at the end of the play. I am not sure if this is significant though.

By Nozomi