A Doll’s Life: More Than Mere Child’s Play (Theatre review)

A Doll’s Life: More Than Mere Child’s Play

Although it shouldn’t be confused with Henrik Ibsen’s classic A Doll’s House, Micaela Jade Tucker’s one-woman show, A Doll’s Life, shares more with the antique Norwegian drama school staple than just a toy reference. Both works serve as feminist parables, grappling with the challenges women face in their quest for sovereignty, authenticity and independence.

Micaela is a riot.

However, while Ibsen’s Nora contends with the overtly patriarchal constraints of the 1870s, Micaela’s sharp, outrageous, and delightfully raunchy autobiographical production highlights the more insidious inequalities, double standards, and hypocrisies of today—reminding us that, despite supposed progress, stigma and misogyny are alive and well in 2025. A woman's body and what she does with it should be her business. Why is this still being debated? The show does a great job of showcasing the absurdity of policing female bodies. 

Serious subject matter but still seriously funny

What sets A Doll’s Life apart is that, unlike Ibsen’s slow-burning tragedy, Micaela’s take on these themes is wildly entertaining. She is hilarious. Her writing is fearless, and as a performer, she is utterly captivating. The lady to my right nearly combusted from shock and disapproval, while the younger audience members behind me whooped, cheered, and hollered as if they were in a Southern church. It was a surround-sound theatre experience.

Guts give them the glory

I’m a fan of this production for many reasons. There’s something exhilarating about artists who take creative risks and produce their own work—especially when it’s executed with such skill. Micaela and director Lara Toselli may be relatively young (depending on your perspective), but their production carries a depth and maturity that even some industry veterans struggle to achieve. I hope this is just the beginning of a series of creative offerings from these stupendous theatre-makers. I was delighted and impressed in equal measure. 

Well-chuffed

The themes explored are both timely and essential: sex positivity, cultural and societal pressures, sexual health and stigma, gender and sexuality norms, and the uphill battle of pursuing a career in the arts within our current socio-political and economic climate. The show balances sharp social satire with deeply personal moments of vulnerability, making for an experience that is both thought-provoking and riotously funny.

We had an outstanding night at the theatre, and I suspect you will too. A Doll’s Life has it all—laughter, irreverence, poignancy, potty mouth, educational content, and, most importantly, heart.

Catch it while you can:

A Doll’s Life: Confessions of a Quarter-Life Crisis, written and performed by Micaela Jade Tucker and directed by Lara Toselli, is showing at Theatre on the Square until 29 March. Book your tickets via Quicket.