Review: An Enemy of the People @ Lichfield Garrick

Cast members John Phillips, Win Churchill, Maurice Allden, Stefan Dufaye, Ian Parkes, Rose Bodger and Dave Stonehouse

I’ve been looking forward to seeing this production ever since it was first announced and Chris Stanley’s directorial take on this classic play is no disappointment. One good reason is his decision to use Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s brilliantly updated translation which keeps the play in its nineteenth-century home but makes the action fresh, current and urgently alive. Another plus is that the plot itself couldn’t be more modern, focusing on how big (and small) businesses and green issues inevitably collide.

Its pivotal character is poor, idealistic Dr. Thomas Stockman, powerfully portrayed here by David Stonehouse, who has discovered that the salt and freshwater spas of which he is Director are fatally contaminated by bacteria from the surrounding soil. In speaking out and demanding the problem be expensively remedied he is at first hailed as a saint by his idealistic friend the crusading journalist Hovstad (John Phillips in delightfully weasel-like form) who is keen to exploit the doctor’s report as a class issue.

But instead of being hailed as the town’s saviour he is at once condemned as an enemy of the people by vested interests who see their livelihoods at risk if the baths close. As a result only his own integrity stands between the good doctor, dire poverty and public disgrace. A brilliant directorial touch had his supporters and enemies planted in the audience during the explosive second half. As his witnesses we have a choice to join in and judge his idealistic struggle and maybe ask ourselves what we would do. Is he a simple, unworldly idiot or a public-spirited saint?

This is a play full of great parts which allows the assembled cast to make their own strongly individual marks.

Rosemary Bodger as the doctor’s wife manages to make her loyal support infinitely touching while Jenna James as his daughter Petra shows a feisty defiance entirely in keeping with the role of an educated girl of the late 1800’s. Win Churchill as the doctor’s lodger perfectly caught the tutting complacency of tragedy’s bystander while Richard Bannister as the equivocal printer Aslaksen made convincingly human the role of a man who would like to see fair play as long as it doesn’t affect his own standing as Chairman of the Property Owners’ Association.

Ian Parkes as Peter Stockman the doctor’s priggish bother and town mayor made this stock character true believable flesh. Maurice Allden caught the desperation of the good doctor’s exasperated father-in-law while Stephan Dufaye as Captain Horster created sympathy by showing how in defiance he still had one last friend. Special mention must go however to Stephen Brunton whose inspired drunk was an exquisite counterpoint to the prejudices of the public meeting.

By turns cynical and idealistic, this play which surgically exposes the fault lines in all its characters would be a challenge for any professional company to mount. That the Players succeed so well proves yet again they are the peoples’ own rep. Long may they reign.

Phil Preece

The Lichfield Blog

An Enemy of the People

Lichfield Players

ALTHOUGH this Ibsen play is set in the 1880s, the story of a brave man's campaign to reveal the truth in competition with the power of the authorities to arrange a cover-up has plenty of comparisons today.

At one point Dr Thomas Stockmann is being hailed a hero for discovering that waste products from a tannery in his small Norwegan town is contaminating the water supply to the local baths, pride and joy of the community.

But when people in high places realise his dossier could seriously damage the spa tourist trade, the good doctor suddenly becomes an enemy of the people, with bricks flying through the windows of his family home.

David Stonehouse gives an outstanding performance as Dr Stockman, particularly when, at a public meeting, he launches an emotional attack on the people who are accusing him of exaggerating the situation.

The schemers even include his pompus brother Peter, the town's Mayor, impressively played by Ian Parkes, and Mr Hovstad (John Phillips), the local newspaper editor who backs off the big story.

An impressive contribution, too, from Jenna James as the doctor's daughter, Petra - her acting debut.

Directed by Chris Stanley, Rebecca Lenkiewicz's new version of the play runs to February 13 in the Studio.

    VERDICT: * * *

An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen

Lichfield Players Lichfield Garrick

Money and morality have the habit of not mixing, together with dodgy dealings, there is nothing new under the sun. Underlying themes of Ibsen’s ‘The Enemy of the People’ are as much the currency of today as 127 years ago when this classic was written. This was Lichfield Players choice for their latest production, preformed with great success in close proximity to their audience in the Garrick Studio.

Dr Thomas Stockman has researched the illness that many contract when they come to be cured in the beneficial baths in the town, He finds the baths polluted and naturally feels the town will accept the baths must be closed until the problem is overcome. David Stonehouse, in a stirling performance which we have come to look for, after distinguished appearances in Henry V and the Country Wife, portrays the doctor whose life and family are turned upside down by the ultimate refusal of the town to accept his findings. Stonehouse had the concern and sympathy of his audience who engaged with him.

He is up against his brother, the self important and upright leader of the town, the Mayor Peter Stockman. He suppresses the report that the waters are spreading disease as it will affect the town and community. Ian Parkes has the heart of the Mayor, he was unflinching and unmoveable, solid and powerful.

Supported at first by the local newspaper the good doctor is proclaimed by Billing, the sub editor, as ‘a friend of the people’ to discover the cause of disease. Here is the moral dilemma, to do the right thing will mean the townsfolk are made to pay with crippling taxes, the newspaper needs financial backing to survive and the town council and traders do no want to lose all the visitors. and for their livelihood to disappear. Consequently the paper and the crowd disengage with the doctor. As is earlier reflected ‘Everyone is terrified of the truth’

In a stormy meeting the worthy doctor is enraged with the townsfolk. He proclaims that in matters of right and wrong - the individual is superior to the multitude. Ibsen gives him the memorable quote ‘the strongest man in the world is the man who stands alone’ He is declared now ‘An Enemy of the People’ .

His addressing of the crowd is brilliantly effective in the studio theatre setting with some of characters join the audience. Throughout this play the audience was engaged with the players and at this point it was difficult not to be vocal and become part of the crowd itself. This is quite telling as sympathy was with the Doctor but surrounded by a hostile crowd it would be natural to join them and jeer him. How fickle we all can be !

The play has a large cast Rosemary Bodger, as Catherine Stockman, was sympathetic and strongly supportive of her husband. Jenna James their daughter was responsive to the situation. Stefan Dufaye a clearly caring and supportive friend of the Doctor, the sea captain who was himself denounced for his help. The Players gave us another great theatrical experience, the set was skilfully designed. Chris Stanley directed a long to be remembered winning production.

Tony Wood, for Lichfield Mercury