By Elina Milimoh

        Photo Credit: American Players Theatre

Last week, I had the pleasure of watching CSI’s production of “A Doll’s House.”

Originally a play written by Henrik Ibsen, our drama department put a twist on its original story with modern elements and a talented cast of individuals. The show ran from March 29 to April 1 in Building 1P.

“A Doll’s House” tells the story of Nora and Torvald Helmer, and their 1870s family. It deals with themes of misogyny, blackmail, and what it means to love. Ultimately, Ibsen portrays a coming-of-age tale of a young woman finding her truth in a world that treats her as a toy.

We have Professor Lee Papa—chair of the English department and the director of the production—to thank for the wonderful ensemble.

Our leading lady, Huma Ahmad, enacts her passion for the spotlight and it shows. She brings the character of Nora to centerstage and left the audience with a beautiful performance to remember.

Her co-star, Regan Sou, sells her position as Torvald with rigor and emotion during high-intensity scenes, upholding a well-deserved reputation for the stage built from a series of productions leading up to this one. This natural talent doesn’t stand humble at the sidelines but pours throughout each motion of the story; it was quite a delight indeed. 

Some honorable mentions are Ochanya Itodo, who played Christina, and Christian Martinez, who played Krogstad. Both actors supported each other during their shared scenes and shared a wonderful performance.

Mia Merton did a wonderful job fulfilling her role as the maid—a nice touch to end each scene and welcome the entry of new characters.

But if there is one character that impressed me from the moment they entered stage until the end of the show, it was Alyssa Decicco as Dr. Rank. She displayed an impressive ability to really embody a character despite their position within the cast—whether it’s a side character, main character or even an extra. 

Decicco showed great talent in this role and I’m so excited to see what else she is capable of doing under the spotlight in future productions at CSI.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit our drama departments and attend the productions, I highly recommend it to anyone who is passionate about the arts, literature, and theater, as well as anyone who would like to bear witness to the amazing talent that is fostered at this school.