Film director Ingmar Bergman's play, Nora, will close as scheduled Jan. 31, 1999 at Maine's Portland Performing Arts Center. The production, by the Portland Stage Company, began previews Jan. 12, with a delayed opening on Jan. 16 after an ice storm canceled the planned 15th opening.

An adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, Nora obtains self-discovery despite a societally-accepted marriage that oppresses her. Although adaptor Bergman is known mostly for his films ("The Seventh Seal," "Smiles of A Summer Night," "The Naked Night," "Fanny and Alexander"), he is also an active theatre director and writer.

Bartlett Sher (PSC's Romeo and Juliet) directs. Julie Dretzin (the daughter in Bway's The Sisters Rosensweig) stars as Nora. Also in the cast are Scott Ripley as her husband Torvald Helmer, Susan Riley Stevens as her friend Mrs. Linde, Sam Catlin (B'way's Jackie: An American Life) as Torvald's employee Nils Krogstad and Aled Davies as Doctor Rank.

PSC Artistic Director Anita Stewart designed the set and costumes with Lap-Chi Chu as lighting designer and Peter John Sills as the sound designer and composer of original music used in the play. Lisa Bragdon is the stage manager.

Tickets for the Nora are $30-$18 and are available by calling the box office at (207) 774 0465. The Portland Performing Arts Center is located at 25A Forest Avenue. -- By Christine Ehren