A scene from Putliki Ghar. PHOTO: Shawkat Jamil

In a male dominated society, women are often objectified. Many women nowadays take the less beaten path and strive to carve a firm niche for themselves in society. Several literary works effectively capture a woman's metamorphosis from a domestic drudge to an emancipated persona. One such work is Ibsen'sA Doll's Housewhere the heroine Nora, tired of an oppressive life, leaves her husband. Recently a Nepalese adaptation of the play, titledPutliki Gharzeroed into Nora Karki's (Nisha Sharma Pokharel) departure from her marital home.

The play was staged by the Nepalese troupe Aarohan at the National Theatre Stage on May 16. With wonderful performances and unique design, Putlika Ghar played to an enthusiastic audience. The show was a part of the ongoing theatre festival, titled 'Staging Ibsen in Asia', a part of the Ibsen Commemoration '06, Bangladesh.

Nisha Sharma Pokharel was superb as Nora, who demonstrates the internal conflicts of a woman divided between a ruthless femininity and seductive wiles on one hand, and a need to perform the role of a traditional wife on the other.

Initially she appears almost shallow but becomes three-dimensional -- an agitated, anxious temptress who has a profound effect on everyone who knows her. Though the dialogue is Nepalese, her eyes, gestures, giggles, sulks, voice modulation and body movement reflect a universal language which is understandable to everyone. Whatever the aesthetic sentiment is -- wrath, anger, anxiety, love, entertainment and others -- Nisha captured all these emotions effectively.

Her sensitive rendering of Nora struck a responsive chord in the audience, particularly the sequence when Shekhor Chapagain (who performed in the role of Hemanta, Nora's husband) accuses her of ruining his happiness. Nisha is also comfortable with her other persona--as a bold and courageous woman who leaves behind her husband in a quest for freedom and equality.

Shekhor Chapagain as Hemantha, the single-minded ambitious Nora's adoring husband, who is a maligned social climber and hubris-afflicted sexist, was a little jaded in comparison to the bold performance of Nisha.

Putliki Ghar had a superb supporting cast, including Bashanta Bhatta as Kedar. This character is usually perceived as a socially inept blackmailer, demanding a payback and a payoff after what Nora did for love. Others who gave a commendable performance were Anju Deuja as Lina, Nora's friend who is a widow, and Rajkumar Pudashaini as Dr Rana, the dependable friend who confesses his love for Nora when he reveals that he is dying.

Translator-director-designer Sunil Pokharel's endeavour is noteworthy. The juxtaposition of his directorial composition, music, simple but aesthetically rich set design and use of effective light made the play unique. The innovative design is evident in the scene depicting Nora's voyage to freedom through a bright beam of light.