Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen, one of the most influential playwrights of the 19th century, wrote many masterpieces still performed today, including “Ghosts,” “A Doll’s House,” “Hedda Gabler” and “The Master Builder.”
Scottish playwright David Harrower has written many plays himself, including the Olivier Best Play of 2007 “Blackbird” and many adaptations of plays by Woyzeck, Pirandello, Chekhov and Brecht.
San Diego’s New Fortune Theater Company presents Harrower’s “Public Enemy” (an adaptation of Ibsen’s “Enemy of the People”) through July 2 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ocean Beach. Richard Baird both directs and acts in this production.
Baird is an award-winning actor, director and producer who founded Poor Players Theatre Company in 2001, later rebranded as New Fortune Theatre Company. Baird has directed 23 of Shakespeare’s plays as well as numerous others.
The question at here is whether truth is always the greater good even when it threatens profitability.
“Public Enemy” Baird plays a scientist named Dr. Thomas Stockmann, who discovered some years ago that the town’s waters were medically beneficial, which made it a popular tourist spot. But lately, he has discovered that
bacteria and other poisons from the tannery and other industries have poisoned the water, making it unsafe to drink.
Science and politics are often at odds, and Thomas’ brother Peter (Nick Kennedy), the town’s mayor, is on a different tack. He just wants to keep his job and convince the people that he is making them some version of happy. He forbids Thomas to say anything about the water, and threatens that his report will not go to committee.
Newspaper editor Hoystad (Trevor Cruse), anxious to get to print with the story, rushes to “The Reformer” office to write it. His printer Alaksen (Neil McDonald) is onboard, since he is the chair of the Small Business Federation.
Thomas schedules a public town hall, where everyone’s opinion will be heard, but he expects his to win. Will it? You really must see the play to find out.
Costumes here add to the atmosphere: Thomas is casual in a cardigan and blazer; brother Thomas more formal in a double-breasted red vest and suit.
The small size of the theater adds to the involvement of spectators, especially if (like me) you are in the front row.
Several other characters come and go as well: Thomas and Katrine’s children (Geoffrey Ulysses Geissinger, Anthony Graf, Kimberly Weinberger) and other townspeople (Danny Campbell and Nick Daugherty).
This is a political play, and we all need to think about what that means. Whom can we trust, and is voting even always valid? “Public Enemy” invites, nay demands thought and, fortunately, provides laughs along the way.
The details
“Public Enemy” plays through July 2 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 3598 Talbot Street in Ocean Beach.
Shows June 22, 23 and 24 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $25 to $30 for adults, $10 for students and military and can be bought onsite, at www.newfortunetheatre.com, or at 1-619-246-1846.
No comments:
Post a Comment