Opening night for the first play in Timeline Theatre’s new building was a sparkly affair. The audience was full of theater people and the level of drama was amped up because this was a night of good news. After years of concern in the arts community about the survival of theater and other arts organizations, an established mid-size theater was opening a brand new facility and expanding the Uptown arts neighborhood.
Even better news is the fact that Timeline’s first presentation in its new home is a dramatic, stylish production of a classic play, Henrik Ibsen’s 1882 An Enemy of the People, adapted for contemporary ears by Amy Herzog (Mary Jane, 4000 Miles). Directed by Ron OJ Parson, the play tells the story of Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Will Allan), a whistleblower who discovers that the water feeding the town’s new spa resort is contaminated by deadly bacteria. The drama portrays Dr. Stockmann’s efforts to warn the town of the danger and the reactions of officials and townspeople to the news.
Dr. Stockman, a widower, is the medical doctor for the Baths, the new spa resort, which town leaders expect to be an economic engine for the town. Allan’s performance is serious and determined as he tries to ensure that those around him understand the gravity of the situation.
Among those leaders is Mayor Peter Stockmann, Thomas’ brother, and chairman of the board of the Baths; Behzad Dabu plays this role with vigor and is a strong foil to his brother. Petra, Thomas’ daughter (Campbell Krausen), a schoolteacher, lives with him and keeps house. Krausen, the only female member of the cast, gives a touching performance as a young woman with progressive views and feminist goals.
Two journalists are visiting Thomas’ home as the play begins. Hovstad (Grayson Kennedy) is editor of the People’s Messenger, and Billing (Kenneth Hamilton) is his colleague. Captain Horster (Charles Andrew Gardner), another visitor, is a friend of Thomas who sticks with him even as his former compatriots turn against him. Aslaksen (Anish Jethmalani), chair of the property owners association, provides printing funds and facilities for the newspaper.
Thomas is waiting for the mail to arrive and it finally does, with the report he’s been waiting for. He’s been concerned about the state of the water that feeds the spa, because of the deaths of a few recent visitors from typhoid. The water samples that he sent off to a university laboratory have been tested and the report is bad news. The water is contaminated by pollution from the tannery upstream, which has crept into the groundwater that feeds the pipes for the Baths. Millions of bacteria have been found in the water samples.
Thomas knows this will make the Baths dangerous for the guests who will be visiting the spa for healing and pain relief. But consider for a moment the time in which this story takes place. In the 19th century, people believed that miasmas or “bad air” caused disease. In the early 1880s, scientist Robert Koch isolated “bacteria” that caused diseases like tuberculosis and cholera. But the average citizen knows nothing about these discoveries. Thus when Thomas’ father-in-law Morten Kiil (David Parkes), visits the next morning, he thinks it’s all a huge prank. “There are animals … in the pipes … and no one can see them? Thousands of them?” he asks Thomas. “Millions, actually,” Thomas replies. “Tiny micro-organisms that cause disease.”
Thomas takes the report to his brother, the mayor, who immediately determines the cost and years necessary to repair the water system. He wants Thomas to downplay the severity of the problem or even deny the “rumors.” By the next day, the story has circulated through the town.
As act two proceeds, more and more people turn against Thomas, even his former journalist supporters. A public meeting is conducted throughout the theater, with audience members as the public. Director Parson uses the thrust stage and scenic design (by John Culbert) dramatically. Actors walk on and sit on the stairways around the theater. Thomas, when he finally gets a chance to speak, moves around on the staircases facing audience members and questioning us on our views of the situation.
My plus-one and I were both puzzled by references to Petra’s brother, Eilif, apparently a child, who is mentioned frequently but never appears. Eilif is a 13-year-old character in Ibsen’s original script. But so are other characters who are not in the Herzog adaptation. Since Eilif never appears and has little relevance to the plot, it’s not clear why Herzog includes those references.
Lighting design is by Brandon Wardell and sound design by André J. Pluess. Costumes are by Christine Pascual. Props are designed by Nicolas Bartleson. Olivia Sullam is stage manager.
An Enemy of the People at Timeline Theatre, 5035 N. Broadway, has been extended through June 14. Running time is two hours, including an intermission. For tickets ($62-$95) and information, call the TimeLine box office at 773-281-8463 x1 or visit timelinetheatre.com.
For more information on this and other productions, see theatreinchicago.com.
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