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A CurtainUp 
London Review
London ReviewPublic Enemy
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The strongest man in the world is the man who stands alone.
— Dr Stockman
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Nick Fletcher as Dr Stockman confronts his brother the Mayor (Darrell D'Silva) Ian Targett as Charles Battle and Mark Frost as Alfred Granger (Photo: Keith Pattison) |
Based on an ecological issue, Dr Stockman (Nick Fletcher) as the local doctor discovers that the baths, which he and his brother Mayor Stockman (Darrell D'Silva) promoted, and are a major tourist attraction, have become polluted by the effluent from the local tannery, which is owned by his father in law, Morten Kiil (David Sibley). The hubris here is that Dr Stockman expects he will be greeted as a local hero for making this discovery but instead, everyone has a knee jerk/cover up reaction, undiluted self interest and fearing for the local economy deprived of its tourism.
Miriam Buether's surreal modern, wide and loud, orange wallpaper with natural wood dominated set, commences in the Stockman's home where their largesse is displayed to many as they discuss the economic effect of "the miracle of the baths". To the side is a picture window showing the sunlight on the sparkling lake which seems too good to be true and which is probably the case! Charlotte Randle is the hospitable Mrs Stockman who becomes very aware of the damage to her family's finances if her husband's exposée goes ahead. Petra (Beatrice Walker) is her daughter, a school teacher who has to teach things she doesn't believe in. Meanwhile medical officer of health, Stockman has a revelation to make to his brother, an oily, self serving Darrell D'Silva.
The public meeting is the most exciting event as Dr Stockman involves the whole Young Vic audience with members of the cast mingling in the crowd. Nick Fletcher paces across the wide stage, bearded, his hair flowing like an avenging angel to counter the version put out by his own brother, the mayor. Stockman's most powerful and unfashionable speech against democracy and the decisions taken by the majority involves the lit up audience, except that we don't have the vested interest of the townspeople in keeping quiet, neither do we not believe that a few more tourist illnesses/deaths will inevitably expose the problem and vindicate the whistle blower.
The performances are impressive. Darrell D'Silva's manipulative and corrupt mayor, Charlotte Randle's practical wife and Nick Fletcher's hot headed Dr Stockman fall out in this small community where everyone is related to everyone else.
In the final scene, the Stockmans return to their house which has been trashed by those opposing the doctor and find out that their children's inheritance has been deliberately spent by Morten Kiil on shares in the inevitably failing baths. This is interpreted by the printer Aslaksen (Niall Ashdown) and newspaper editor Hovstad (Bryan Dick) as a clever move by Stockman to buy shares cheaply for which they commend him.
The idealism of the ending makes me want to return to this town in five years to see how everyone has fared. Of course today we would be looking at solutions to the pollution but Ibsen's play never gets beyond the projected costs and the vested interests of those who would be expected to foot the bill. This may not be the greatest of Ibsen's plays which I consider are Ghosts, Hedda Gabler, The Master Builder and A Doll's House but issues of the corruption of public officials and cover-ups and the treatment of whistle blowers, however, never do go away. Well done to the Young Vic for such a relevant and involving production!
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| Public Enemy
by Henrik Ibsen in a version by David Harrower Directed by Robert Jones Starring: Nick Fletcher, Charlotte Randle, Darrell D'Silva, Bryan Dick With: Niall Ashdown, Adam Best, Joel Fry, David Sibley, Beatrice Walker, Reece Donn/Domenico Frescofiore, Sasha Gray/Kai Hill/Elliott Sumpter Set Designed by Miriam Buether Lighting: Mimi Jordan Sherin Sound and Music: David Sawer Costume Design: Nicky Gillibrand Fight: Bret Yount Running time: One hour 40 minutes without an interval Box Office: 020 7922 2922 Booking to 8th June 2013 Reviewed by Lizzie Loveridge based on 13th May 2013 performance at the Young Vic, 66 The Cut, London SE1 8LZ (Rail/Tube: Waterloo) |
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