Set in a small Norwegian spa town, Ibsen's AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE is about Doctor Thomas Stockmann, a man of principles who discovers that the spa's water is poisoned. He naively expects the mayor to greet the truth with gratitude, but the town's political machine will brook no threat to its prosperity, even if it means letting thousands of people be sickened. Doctor Stockmann becomes a whistleblower, and the public campaign against him mounts, setting up a moral battle between a lone truth teller and a society desperate for self-preservation.
In this regard, Gold’s An Enemy of the People—notwithstanding its 19th-century costumes (by David Zinn) and sets (by the design collective dots) and elaborate period business (the loading of pipes, the heating of drinks, the lighting and snuffing of lamps)—feels pointedly modern, a quality that is brought to the fore in the production’s pivotal scene: a public meeting at which Stockmann tries to share his findings directly with the populace. The scene takes place after a short intermission during which members of the audience go onstage for free shots of aquavit at a shiny modern bar stamped with the logo of the brand providing the liquor. Breaking from the cozy naturalism of the production’s first half, Gold introduces elements of environmental theater: He brings up the house lights and treats the audience as part of the meeting; the characters address us directly, and a few spectators are even seated onstage to pad out the crowd. Circle in the Square’s in-the-round seating plan is ideal for this scene, a public square within a circle of observers.
Gold’s attention to texture and tactile detail asks audiences to lean in; the play’s early scenes foster an engrossing intimacy later blasted apart by civic controversy. From the delicate border on Petra’s woolen shawl (costumes are by David Zinn) to the Rosemaling patterns painted on the white set (by the design collective Dots), the production creates a seductive and convincing world in the realm of the senses. But it took a startling ambush to jolt the moral of the story into the moment.
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Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2024 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Adaptation | Amy Herzog |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Caleb Eberhardt |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance | Jeremy Strong |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Direction of a Play | Sam Gold |
2024 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | An Enemy of the People |
2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play | Jeremy Strong |
2024 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Play | An Enemy of the People |
2024 | Theatre World Awards | Theatre World Award | Michael Imperioli |
2024 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Play | David Zinn |
2024 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Play | Isabella Byrd |
2024 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play | Jeremy Strong |
2024 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Play | An Enemy of the People |
2024 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Play | dots |
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