Theatre Review: Henrik Ibsen’s Seminal “Enemy of the People” on Stage at the Odyssey Theatre

On Stage With…

Lady Beverly Cohn

Entertainment Editor

Ron Sossi’s Odyssey Theatre is alive and well and under Artistic Director Beth Hogan’s leadership continues presenting productions in the tradition of the late, great theatre pioneer.  But, before I launch into a review of director Bart DeLorenzo’s current adaption of Henrik Ibsen’s Enemy of the People, I thought I would give you a little background on one of the most important, prolific playwrights in modern drama earning him the name of  “the father of modern realism.”  Born in Skien, Norway, he did not grow up with a silver spoon in his mouth, but rather in a financially challenged family.  Whatever were the difficult circumstances in his young life, Ibsen transcended them, and in a career that spanned 50 years, went on to write 25 plays, which have survived the test of time.  As the creator of the Modernist theater movement, his body of work became a blue print for future playwrights.  He illuminated the trials and tribulations of ordinary people focusing on the then prevailing social, moral, and psychological issues ranging from women’s rights, marriage, and political corruption.  His most famous plays, which undoubtedly influenced future playwrights such as George Bernard Shaw, Arthur Miller, Eugene O’Neill, and Tennessee Williams, include A Doll’s House, Hedda Gabler, The Wild Duck, Peer Gynt, The Master Builder, The Lady from the Sea, Gabriel Borkman, and Enemy of the People, the subject of this review.

In DeLorenzo’s contemporary adaptation, on rise we meet Dr. Tom Stockmann (Jay Paulson) who is employed by the city to oversee the town’s hot springs, the vital source of tourism revenue.  He discovers that the water is contaminated with dangerous bacteria and recommends that the Springs be shut down immediately to avoid making people sick.  He has written an extensive report which he honestly believes will be welcomed by the politicians and residents of the town.  His brother Peter (Jason McBeth) pays a friendly visit to convince Tom that the report should not be issued until further study can be made.   The conversation escalates with Peter, who is also mayor and Tom’s employer, accusing him being reckless and in short order, the brothers get into a physical confrontation. Tom’s wife Kate (Cara Mitsuko) is initially supportive but eventually succumbs to pressure, encouraging him to back down and not publish the report.  Also with his own agenda is Kate’s father Martin (Dennis Dun) who was the owner of a tannery which apparently scored high on the release of dangerous pollutants.  He wonders why they just can’t solve the problem by dropping in rat poison.  Adding to the growing opposition to this report being made public is the People’s Voice, thetown’s newspaper which initially supported  publishing the report, but due to political pressure, has backtracked and the principals, Hudson (DeJuan Christopher) and Billing (Clay Hollander) are now refusing to publish claiming that doing so would kill the paper’s credibility and financially damage the town.  Joining the opposition is councilwoman (Lauren Campedelli) and the newspaper’s wealthy backer.  She too wants the report killed pending further study.  Tom delivers a long impassioned speech to the residents of the town wherein he addresses not only the problem of the Springs, but DeLorenzo takes this opportunity to integrate a long list of the current environmental and health issues with which our nation is struggling.  All of Tom’s warnings are to no avail as he is heckled and booed as his pleadings to shut down the Springs falls on deaf ears.  So what we have here is a perfect storm where  financial interests, political expediency, and public opinion intersect with what should have been a genuine concern for the safety of the townspeople.  The unintended consequences are Tom becoming an “enemy of the people,” both he and his wife are fired from their jobs, their garage door is defaced, and their landlord evicts them from their home.  I guess you could say this falls heavily into that old saw, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

Under DeLorenzo’s sharp direction, supported by an outstanding technical team including Scenic and Costume Design by Frederica Nascimento, Lighting Design by  W. Alejandro Melendez, and Jonathan Flikkie’s Sound which nicely covered the set changes, each member of the cast delivers a credible performance.  Just one “housekeeping” comment.  In one scene Tom tears up his report and tosses what appears to be blank sheets of paper about the stage and in the Town Hall scene, he arrives with “blood” on his face.  Alas, the papers should have been picked up and the “blood cleaned off of his face as each of those particular pieces of “stage business” were not appropriate for the next scene.  I’m just sayin’….

What makes this play, originally written in 1882, most shocking is its relevance between Ibsen’s “fictional” story with its agenda-focused characters which quite unwittingly foreshadowed the current political players in our country.   Based solely on financial gain, one of the most corrupt administrations in our nation’s history is inflicting great harm on our citizenry by systematically destroying all the safeguards against environmental harm as well as removing protection from diseases of which children are particularly susceptible. One can only hope we will survive one of the darkest moments in American history and see her restored to her greatness.  As for Mr. Ibsen, his foresight and understanding of the human condition, is nothing short of genius.

“ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE”

Odyssey Theatre 
2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90025

Adapted and Directed by Bart DeLorenzo

Produced by Artist Director Beth Hogan

Performance Schedule:

Fridays & Saturdays: 8:00pm  
Sundays:  3:00pm

Wednesday, September 16:  8:00pm

Closing: September 27, 2027

Genre:  Drama

Run Time:  1 hours & 45 Minutes

No Intermission

Tickets: $15-$40

OdysseyTheatre.com
(310) 477-2055 ext. 2