BETC season opener brings a wealth of talent to Ibsen’s social indictment

It’s a bit of a risky move to kick off a new season with a 19th century Henrik Ibsen play, but Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company’s adaptation of Enemy of the People proves once again that people don’t change. While our time may be particularly fraught in terms of anti-science nitwits and cynical politicians eager to exploit them, so, too, is the world created by Ibsen where a small town is ripped apart by a Cassandra character battling the masses.

Recently revived on Broadway in an Amy Herzog adaptation and starring Succession’s Jeremy Strong, the version now up at the Denver Savoy was adapted by BETC Managing Director Mark Ragan. Producing Artistic Director Jessica Robblee directs a well-rounded cast in a show that has a fair amount of humor mixed in with serious questions.

Mark Collins plays Dr. Thomas Stockmann, a doctor in a small town where a recently built spa baths facility is a hoped-for economic salvation for the struggling economy. As the medical officer for the baths, Stockmann commissions a water study to assess the safety of the water. As he suspects, it comes back showing all kinds of bad bacteria, with a fix meaning millions of dollars and several years to effect.

It’s an ideal role for Collins, who embodies all the conflict that comes with being the bearer of entirely unwelcome news but whose moral high ground affords him a smug superiority. Doomed to be ignored and even harassed by his friends, neighbors and even some family members, he’s Anthony Fauci without the deferential political skills.

His nemesis is his own brother — the town’s mayor Peter Stockmann ‚ brought to life with volcanic ferocity by Bill Hahn. He played a similar character in last year’s Curious Theatre production of The Minutes, and here he perfects even further the kind of guy who looks as though the stupidity surrounding him will cause him to explode.

Like the mayor in Jaws, Peter is much less concerned about theoretical health and safety problems than he is getting asses in seats at the spa. With Trumpian rhetorical skills and maneuvering, he’s soon got most of the town aligned against Thomas.

Chris Kendall as Kiil the tanner in ‘Enemy of the People’ | Photo: Michael Ensminger Photography

No small parts here

While the tale of the two brothers is central to the action, Enemy of the People has quite a few other characters essential to the story. Robblee put together a dream cast with some of Colorado’s best actors and guided all of them to memorable performances.

Anastasia Davidson is fiery as Thomas’s daughter Petra, who sticks by his side and rejects the town’s patriarchy with her “emancipated” views. As his wife, Katherine, Tammy Meneghini is equal to the challenge of being torn between supporting her husband and protecting them from the mob.

It’s a treat to see Jim Hunt appear as Aslaksen, a local printer who foments the unrest with his spluttering demagoguery. Another venerable presence is Chris Kendall, who’s funny as hell as the skeptical local tanner and father to Katherine. As we learn later, though, his dismissiveness of the whole affair hides a deeper scheme that will upend everything for Thomas and his family.

As the editors of the local paper, Ben Griffin and Josh Hartwell convincingly shed their morals as journalists to become cowardly complicit in the movement against the doctor. It’s as disappointing as it is reflective of how even those charged with telling the truth will change their tune when it affects their wallets.

Penina Eisenberg plays the maid Randine as well as a singer of Norwegian folk songs | Photo: Michael Ensminger Photography

Even Penina Eisenberg as the maid, Randine, gets more time in the spotlight as she also employs her beautiful voice to sing bits of Norwegian folk songs in key transitions. It’s a nice touch added by Ragan and pulled off nicely by the singer.

The production is enhanced by a neat, period set by Matthew S. Crane and excellent costumes designed by Sarah Zinn.

Then and now

Ibsen’s play is fascinating to watch simply due to how well it nails the manner in which people can be manipulated then and, clearly, today. The plot contains escalating connections that raise the stakes for every character. Even the doctor must confront the fact that if he continues raising the alarm about the toxic water, he’ll be out of a job and his family will be out on the street. It’s a point his brother delights in driving home, and Hahn is superb at twisting the knife.

And while the characters work it out on stage, with most succumbing to the mob, those of us in the audience are compelled to wonder how we’d behave in a similar situation. “Just as badly,” Ibsen says — and he’s almost certainly right.

The original Enemy of the People script had five acts; this adaptation has one long first act and a very short second for a runtime of just about two hours with intermission. The ending felt a little rushed and open-ended but the overall impact of the play is incredibly sobering. Trump has reminded all of us how easily many types of people can be manipulated regardless of education and background. Ibsen demonstrates convincingly how quickly it can happen, and recent events make the fiction of Enemy of the People seem anything but.

(L-R) Mark Collins, Tammy Meneghini, Josh Hartwell and Ben Griffin | Photo: Michael Ensminger Photography