Fri 2/7-Sun 2/23
Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 play An Enemy of the People has a plot and theme that sound very modern. In it, a doctor discovers that local spa water is contaminated, and when he writes an article to expose it, he finds himself in conflict with the town’s economic interests which are dependent on the spa, with the people of the town and with his own father-in-law whose tannery is poisoning the water.
A modern version of the play, titled An Enemy of the People: A Rust Belt Adaptation by Les Hunter was commissioned by Rubber City Theatre and first performed in 2022. Dr. Stockman is now a woman but faces the same issues when she discovered polluted water in a Rust Belt city. Again the play asks how do you balance environmental and economic imperatives and what is the cost of telling the truth.
Now Hunter’s version will be performed by Ensemble Theatre with a cast of local actors, directed by Rebecca Moseley. It takes place in the theater’s new home in the Marinello Little Theatre in John Carroll University’s DJ Lombardo Student Center.
There will be an opening night reception on Friday February 7 and a post-show talkback with the playwright after the Sunday February 16 matinee.
Go here for more information and tickets.
ensembletheatrecle.org/enemy-of-the-people