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in Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House" |
Stephen stars in the Henrik Ibsen play "A Doll's House" at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California.
The play runs from January 8th to February 8th, 2004.
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Some pics of Stephen with co-star Rene Augesen & Director Carey Perloff
*Pictures Copyright © A.C.T. Printed with Permission
For more information visit the American Conservatory Theater Website
Newly translated, brilliantly directed, and marvelously staged René Augesen as Nora and Stephen Caffrey as Torvald give outstanding performances." As Torvald, Stephen Caffrey is softer than he should be. Nora has a certain terror of Torvald and of upsetting the ideal home she has tried to make for him, yet Caffrey is not stern or commanding in a way that would inspire fear. Still, he and Augesen do ignite some strong chemistry. Stephen Caffrey's Torvald is full of air behind his pince-nez, like any Victorian fop; René Augesen -- brilliant as she is -- plays Nora with a touch of a British accent. It feels like an evening of Masterpiece Theatre.
Jerry Friedman,
KGO Radio
Chad Jones, STAFF WRITER the Oakland Tribune
Caffrey also plays a powerful Torvald. He's not only pompous and boisterous, but also deeply sentimental and sorry for himself. "No religion, no sense of duty, no morals -- you have destroyed my happiness!" he hollers during his final tantrum. Caffrey deserves extra credit for stepping late into this role; the first actor, Geordie Johnson, couldn't secure a visa from Canada. (But at least we know our immigration laws are working.)
Caffrey, called in to replace Canadian actor Geordie Johnson (who couldn't get a visa), has terrific rapport with Augesen. Their teasing banter has the enlivening and cagily annoying ring of marital familiarity, a long- practiced game of childishness and patronizing with mutual erotic undertones. Torvald's emotional cluelessness is cunningly set up in Caffrey's sublime sense of complete control and Augesen's perpetual, subtle efforts to maintain it.
But it's the personal affection and sexual attraction that Augesen and Caffrey make seem so established that gives us an emotional stake in the Helmers' marriage, reinforcing the impact of their showdown at the end. And Caffrey's portrayal not only builds beautifully to Torvald's inability to live up to Nora's ideal of self-sacrifice -- or even aspire to it -- but convinces us he really believes what he says when he tells Nora he'll change, just as sincerely as we doubt he can do it.
Augesen and Caffrey make the personal cost of Nora's decision as vivid and real as the liberating impact of her "I am first and foremost a human being" realization.
Robert Hurwitt, Chronicle Theater Critic
It was very obvious right from the beginning that there was great chemistry between Stephen & co-star Rene Augensen throughout the production and the audience delighted in it.
There were some unique highlights in Stephen's performance that made the audience chuckle and it was apparent they warmed up to Stephen and his character from the onset of play and anticipated the comical banter between he and Rene.
Given the fact that we were somewhat "biased" attendees I found it difficult to give an honestly fair review of Stephen's performance but judging by the reaction of the audience it's also fair to say that they wholeheartedly agreed with our "biased" opinion in that he was exceptional.
It is interesting to note though that we saw just a "tad" of LT in his performance expecially in the
bantering scenes with Rene.
We have to give this performance at "thumbs up" for the entire cast but especially to Stephen who has been long overdue for such recognition.
Deborah, Joanne & Company for TodFanpage.com
Although we cannot give any specific details at this time expect to see Stephen in some more outstanding theatrical work in the upcoming months. We will post details with Stephen's permission as they are available.
Pictures courtesy of American Conervatory Theater Copyright © 2003 American Conservatory Theater. All rights reserved. Printed with Permission
Reviews courtesy of The San Francisco Chronicle; The Oakland Tribune and KGO Radio; Excerpts printed with permission