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.
An “Enemy” in which Strong had the moral advantage but was, say, annoying about it, or brusque, or purposefully alienating, would be one that’s more intriguingly unsettled, and would leave you staring into the seats across the stage a bit more urgently. This production has much to recommend it, and Strong in particular should return to the stage as often as he can. But it’s hard not to feel as though this “Enemy of the People,” in which as rootable as possible a hero is ground down by the forces of evil, ended up presenting an opportunity for the audience to put themselves on trial, and then, with a sigh of relief, exonerate themselves.
For one, both Succession and this adaptation, directed by Sam Gold (who is married to Herzog) know how to crunchily position drama and wit, profundity and comedy, alongside one another. This brilliant Enemy of the People is notably funny in both its smarts and pacing, and even its later gathering darkness—when Stockmann is viciously trounced and isolated by his townsfolk—is studded with light, and the certainty of his self-preservation.
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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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