First Preview of An Enemy of the People

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/4/12 at 9:59pm

I wasn't really looking forward to this fearing it might be stuffy and boring, but I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised. Sure the play is a tad heavy handed here and there, but it's very solid and really it works as a marvelous acting exercise for Boyd Gaines.

What's there left to say about Boyd? If he retired after this production he'd go down as one of the great stage actors. He's only 59. How many more moments of brilliance will we get if he keeps acting for another 25 years? Boyd also doesn't really need first previews. He's such a professional and so prepared that you could send the reviewers in tonight and you'd be reading the raves tomorrow. He has a huge monologue in act two where he stands on a table and it was perfect. This type of stuff is his bread and butter, and you know he's going to deliver.

Boyd has lots of strong support. Richard Thomas is great as his slimy, bureaucratic brother. They share an act one scene that was like a tennis match, lobbing accusations and threats with more skill and rhythm than you would expect at a first preview.

John Procaccino and Gerry Bamman are very good as two friends initially willing to support Gaines' crusade to create change in town. Credit must go to Doug Hughes for making everyone feel like they were actual neighbors living in a small town.

The set (on a turntable) is beautiful, and the lighting and costumes were nice.

Yes it's way, way, way too early to bring up the "T" word, but come on, when Boyd Gaines is in conversation how can one not? It would be no shock if another nomination is added to his tally come spring.

[After Eight]

Posted: 9/4/12 at 10:38pm

Well done. Nicely designed. Boyd Gaines gives an impassioned performance. Exciting theatre with a punch, as significant as ever.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/4/12 at 10:57pm

wow

[macnyc]

Posted: 9/4/12 at 11:00pm

Thanks for posting! I had been on the fence about this, but now I'm making plans to see it. TDF has some good dates available.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 9/5/12 at 7:28am

Thanks so much for the reports, Whizzer and After Eight!

This just got a bump up my list.

Sounds like it's everything we could have hoped for out of this production!

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 9/5/12 at 7:45am

Great to hear this. This play couldn't be more important or telling right now. Alas, some things haven't changed when it comes to telling the truth.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/5/12 at 8:29am

Yes, the message about telling the truth resonated with me. Boyd had so many great lines about the complacency of the majority and how change depends on a small minority pushing the majority rather than the majority being a force of change itself. One line in particular was very funny about the majority being full of idiots- which makes sense because aren't there more idiots in this world than geniuses? It got a big laugh!

[wexy]

Posted: 9/5/12 at 11:51am

I'm going Tuesday night...

[defyingravity11]

Posted: 9/5/12 at 12:47pm

I'm going next week and this buzz is making me even more excited! I love Boyd and I love Ibsen.

[theaterfan862]

Posted: 9/5/12 at 1:04pm

I am a huge Boyd Gaines fan and was planning on seeing this but now I am gonna get my tickets for a sooner date. Gaines is a master of his craft!

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 9/5/12 at 1:14pm

to anyone who went: did the set design favor house left or house right in particular? A couple of times in the last two years or so, I've gone to productions and ended up sitting on the side that I would've opted to avoid, had I seen the stage design. A good example would be GOOD PEOPLE - I felt like the staging and the design (a lot of corners and angles, if I remember correctly) played away from me (or, maybe everyone felt like that, I don't know).

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/15/12 at 7:07pm

Saw it this evening. I was in the mezz center so can't speak to the previous poster's question.

I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it, but wound up being incredibly moved. Boyd Gaines' performance is magnificent, and Richard Thomas is doing wonderful work. And Kathleen McNenny is giving an extraordinary performance as Stockmann's neglected wife.

The translation works in most places, though I thought the attempts at humor in Act Two seem a bit forced. It's in very strong shape, with a terrific set and beautiful lighting design. The cast is very talented.

If you like Ibsen, you'll enjoy it. Or if you like Boyd Gaines (the real draw for me), you'll enjoy it.

[bondgirl]

Posted: 9/16/12 at 10:02am

I sat on the aisle of far House left and the view was a bit obstructed. I'd stick to the center if I saw it again.

I did think that the play was well acted and I enjoyed the set design.

Enjoy!

[Felm_heart]

Posted: 9/17/12 at 11:28pm

Anyone know the running time on this?

[evic]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 4:37am

A superb revival all the way around. Felt so contemporary and topical. I hated reading it in HS but this concise version made it all stirring. Boyd is amazing and the rest of the cast shines. A good start to a non promising season. Bravo!

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 5:17am

Who did the translation--was it the Arthur Miller version?

[DeNada]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 6:26am

It's a new version by Rebecca Lenkiewicz; it's the same adaptation that played at the Arcola in London in 2008.

Posted: 9/18/12 at 12:20pm

running time?

[Pammylicious]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 12:28pm

Website says 2 hours.

Going tonight in this storm. Hope it's no longer.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 1:02pm

Two hours? They must have made some BIG cuts. But now I'm looking forward to seeing it.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 2:32pm

It ran about 2:15.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 2:43pm

What's there left to say about Boyd? If he retired after this production he'd go down as one of the great stage actors. He's only 59. How many more moments of brilliance will we get if he keeps acting for another 25 years?

But to me, he'll always be Barbara's husband on One Day at a Time.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 2:51pm

Boyd has no intention of retiring. He's told me many times that "he likes to work". Besides, he has a daughter who's just about ready for college. Everyone knows that tuition isn't cheap.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 4:14pm

Is it a contemporary setting? Not placed in US, I hope

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 9/18/12 at 4:31pm

Now I'm even more interested--didn't know it was a new(ish) translation. It sounds like a lot of the original was cut, but that's not always a bad thing (I remember finding even the Miller version fascinating--and LONG).