ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE – Odyssey Theatre
Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
Serious themes of public health and the suppression of dangerous information are explored through humor and strong choices by actors.
Transferred to a modern setting, Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 play An Enemy of the People, skillfully adapted by director Bart DeLorenzo, exposes the conflict between social norms, personal integrity and basic survival of everyone. New spas in town are contaminated with bacteria and are endangering public health.
The charismatic Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Jay Paulson), who discovers serious contamination, is determined to expose the scientific truth. But his courageous decision results in strong and adverse reactions from many of the people in town.
How to cope with the facts? What is the price of being honest and direct? So many want to hear only comforting news, that there isn’t a problem. Even though the test results are disturbing, the toxic sludge has slipped into the community. The whole town is at Dr. Stcokmann’s throat.
Serving people is hard. While everyone is seeking the great doctor’s opinion, the harsh consequences exposed turn out to be a challenge. The town cannot afford to shut down the Springs, which would cause loss in paychecks. Everyone’s survival is at stake.
The play opens with late night boozing going on in Dr. Stocksmann’s house, where Kate Stockmann (Cara Mitsuko) is a hostess. Everyone seems to be on the doctor’s side at first, but realizing the consequences of the truth exposed, each, one by one, seems to move to the other side and Stockmann becomes the “enemy of the people.” His brother, Peter Stockmann (Jason McBeth), who is the mayor, becomes his main enemy.
It’s interesting how, throughout history, everything always becomes a political matter. And the press plays an integral part in giving the roadmap: in which direction to go and what to believe.
Dr. Stockmann gave a long speech at the end of the play addressing the people. He was determined to make an impact and protect everyone’s health by attacking the problem while they still could. Was he successful? What were his feelings after losing everything — his job, his wife’s job, his house, and being attacked by the rock that came through his window?
The bare tree branches on the side of stage and in the backdrop symbolize death and destruction. Truth without compromise becomes a true enemy.
The rest of the talented cast includes Lauren Campedelli (Anna Scalzo), Dejuan Christopher (Hudson), Dennis Dun (Martin Kiel), and Clay Hollander (Billing). The ability to interpret drama mixed with humor is beautifully done by everyone. The range of emotions, vocal projection and clarity of speech together with gestures and intonation brings out the heart of the play. Well done, everyone!
‘Ibsen famously said he wasn’t sure whether Enemy of the People was a comedy or a drama.’ That is what DeLorenzo brought into the play – seriousness and humor. In an interview he says, ‘I didn’t feel like I was dragging Enemy of the People into the present. I felt like the present had caught up with the play.’
In shaping the story’s conflicts DeLorenzo gives us his viewpoint ‘I wasn’t interested in presenting a play where the hero gives a speech and everyone learns a lesson. I wanted to explore how difficult political engagement can actually be. How it can consume your life, alienate people you love, and still leave you wondering whether you’ve accomplished anything. I look around and see a lot of us carrying that fatigue right now, and wondering what to do next, and I wanted to explore what it takes to keep going anyway. What our times may be asking of all of us.’
The Enemy of the people runs at Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd. LA, CA 90025 (between Santa Monica and Olympic Blvds.) from August 22 to September 27, 2026. Performances are on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. / Sundays at 3 p.m. / Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 8 p.m. Parking is free in the on-site lot.
Tickets are $15–$40 (A $3 fee will be added to each ticket purchased with a credit card.) To purchase the tickets call (310) 477-2055 ext. 2 or go to www.OdysseyTheatre.com