The Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara will present a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's classic 19th century drama, A Doll's House, with Peter Lackner directing. The run at the Alhecama Theatre is from Feb. 9 through March 11.

Frank McGuinness's recent translation of the play was hailed in England and New York for the way it brought out the heat in the relationship between Nora and her husband Torvald. Traditionally, modern productions of A Doll's House have emphasized the feminist "battle cry" side of the text.

"You have to make the marriage sexually credible," said McGuinness in a statement, "to imagine they have a wonderful time in bed, so there becomes something to lose." The Irish dramatist McGuinness was also responsible for the a version of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler and is the author of Someone Who'll Watch Over Me.

Lackner's cast includes Karen Stapleton (as Nora), Doug Tompos (as Torval), Stacy Marr, Jonathan Voyce, Rudolph Willrich, Christina Allison and Courtney Scholl. The children are played by Kevin Spracher, Annie Spirka and Morgan Davis.

Ensemble Theatre Company works out of intimate Alhecama Theatre, located at 914 Santa Barbara St. For tickets and information call (805) 962-8606 or visit www.ensembletheatre.com — By Willard Manus
Southern California Correspondent