Join a masculine mancave monologue from a middle-aged man in a midlife crisis, created by former young artist Ibrahim Fazlic.

From a basement room, this interactive monologue performance celebrates and explores masculinity, caregiving, and male spaces. The performance is based on the character Thorvald Helmer from "A Doll's House" and places him in the present day. In the evenings, when he is alone in his villa, he descends to his basement room and unleashes his masculinity. As the audience enters Thorvald's basement, they make his irrelevant voice relevant again.

Broader Understanding

The piece opens up for a broader understanding of the man's place in today's society, why toxic male cultures online are so popular, and why men's suicide rates are dramatically higher than women's.

Enormous Influence

Despite Ibsen's own denials that "A Doll's House" was feminist, it has retained an enormous influence within feminist theater. Fazlic's work sheds light on Thorvald, the man who was left behind in Ibsen's play, and explores male self-perceptions in a time of polarization, unclear male roles, and vague expectations.

Something to Learn?

In his safe space, surrounded by masculine nostalgia, Thorvald questions his role in society as a man, how social categories affect the living conditions of men, and how to raise children of different genders and sexualities.

What can we learn about the person behind "the white man pushing fifty," and importantly, what can he teach us?

House Playwright

Ibrahim Fazlic is a stage artist and playwright. He has been the resident playwright at the House of Drama from 2019 to 2023 and has previously created the performances "Prty Lyfe," "A Muslim Afro-Joik in Swedish in Norway," and "Mama Masochist."

NOTE: This performance is in a basement and requires the ability to walk down a staircase to participate.