DramaTech performs Ibsen's An Enemy of the People

Coming right off the heels of the production of the play Assassins, the DramaTech Theatre continues its spring performance schedule with Arthur Miller's adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's An Enemy of the People. Ibsen's original play was written in 1882, and Miller adapted it in the 1950s.

The play has obviously withstood the test of time. Now, over a century after it was originally written, Ibsen's play is brought back to life by the deft hands of the DramaTech cast and crew.

An Enemy of the People was Ibsen's social criticism of the Victorian era and the precedence of social decorum over concepts like freedom and the truth.

The play highlights the terrible power of the uneducated masses, a concept that was indeed relevant to the political climate in Miller's era.

Miller was most prominent in the time of the Red Scare, when the paranoia related to Communism made his views on society unpopular to the government in power. The subject of An Enemy of the People is also related to this dilemma, which seems to have arisen quite often throughout the course of history.

The most remarkable part about the play is not the historical or societal connections that Ibsen and Miller bring to light.

Rather, it is the sheer intensity behind the well-written script-the fiery clash of personalities that bring a resilient quality that has allowed the play to withstand the test of time.

An Enemy of the People is set in Norway in the small fictional town of Kiersten Springs. The protagonist, Dr. Stockmann (Aditya Madhavan) and his brother, the Mayor (Laura Czyzewski) have just developed the hot springs in the town. The springs have brought the town lots of attention, as they seem to be of medicinal value.

Just as the baths grow more prominent and the small town begins to attract tourists, Dr. Stockmann finds that there is a contaminant in the water from the springs that is detrimental to the health of the many tourists who visit the springs.

Although the short-term effects are not immediately evident, Dr. Stockmann concludes that some action must be taken, or the town will be slowly poisoned from the inside out.

And that's where things get interesting. The audience soon realizes that the situation is not as black and white as reporting on the contaminated water and treating it. The situation is complicated by the economic benefit the town reaps from the springs, as well as the added political intrigue of the Mayor.

It is this "pressure cooker" of a situation that builds tension and suspense in the plot, leaving the audience unsure of a resolution.

The characters become involved in a circumstance where there is no right answer, as Dr. Stockmann finds himself caught between his personal integrity and the wishes of the majority.

An Enemy of the People is a tale of betrayal, morality and loaded questions with no clear answers. The DramaTech cast does an excellent job of portraying the complex characters, many of which have multiple motivations and reasons for their actions.

Even the most seemingly insignificant subtleties are tended to in the play. The Mayor's rigid posture, Petra's ever so slight smile and Hovstad's whimsical style of speech all add to rounding out what would otherwise be minor characters.

It is this attention to detail that DramaTech has always excelled in, and this play is no exception. It is also notable that many of the male characters are portrayed by the predominantly female cast.

Upon first glance it seems a little strange, but as soon as the play begins the actors seem very natural and well-versed in their roles.

The interaction between Dr. Stockmann and the Mayor is definitely one of the high points of the performance. The stark contrast between the honest, passionate Dr. Stockmann and the icy, cunning Mayor makes a splendid scene to watch.

With each twist and turn, the lively cast of characters ropes the audience in bit by bit, eliciting genuine interest and suspense. An Enemy of the People will continue to play this Friday and Saturday, April 20-21 at 8 p.m.