A Dollhouse Divided: DLT delivers a gorgeous staging in spades

Judy Martin is a stereotypical 1950s housewife, a vision of June Cleaver in crinolines, aprons, and pearls. The catch? Judy lives in the 21st century. She and her husband, Johnny, immerse themselves in a curated vintage lifestyle, from the appliances to the gender roles. However, as the play progresses, Johnny’s reservations emerge, revealing the cracks in their retro-fantasy. Ironically, Laura Wade’s script indulges in the very nostalgia it seeks to indict; it offers lush "eye candy" while simultaneously wagging a finger at the audience for enjoying it.

Director Melissa Roberts interprets the script as an examination of “control, identity, and the human need to feel safe.” Yet, this is a heavy lift for a script built on such surrealistic imagery. The play begins with a broad, pantomimic energy that struggles to pivot into the high-stakes drama of the second act. It often feels like two different plays fighting for the same space.

By comparison, Norm Foster’s Hilda’s Yard proves a play can be funny while remaining anchored in the genuine friction of its era. Home, I’m Darling feels thin because it relies on the veneer of the 1950s without grappling with its soul. It lacks the revelatory depth required to move beyond caricature.

To be clear, the Dundas Little Theatre production is magnificent. The design and technical teams have outdone themselves. The set—a meticulously crafted, multi-level mid-century dollhouse—is a triumph of community theatre engineering: bright, nostalgic, and physically impressive.

The performers pour immense heart into the work. As Judy, Antoinette Laleon captures the rigid poise of the era perfectly, even when the script leaves her character's motivations feeling opaque. The evening’s dramatic highlight is a searing monologue from Sylvia, Judy’s mother. Barb Dickie sinks her teeth into the only real meaty morsel of writing in the piece; it is a tour-de-force of visceral anger. Aleksander Ristic also shines as Johnny, bringing a palpable fragility to the moments when their domestic stage-play begins to crumble.

Dundas Little Theatre has polished this stone until it shines, but no amount of mid-century modern furniture can hide the fact that the script favours broad tropes over deep exploration. If you go for the visual splendour—the vintage dresses, the Lindy-hopping, and the sheer technical ambition of the staging—you’ll find plenty to admire.*

HOME, I’M DARLING by Laura Wade continues to February 8th
Directed by Melissa Roberts
Produced by Jared Lenover

📍 Dundas Little Theatre, 37 Market Street South, Dundas, Ontario
🎟️ Tickets: 905-627-5266 | dundaslittletheatre.com/tickets
💵 $27 regular | $22 seniors & students (with ID)

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