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Post by David J on May 3, 2016 19:38:15 GMT
Wow, just wow!
For a 136 year old play this is highly topical and in this political climate the timing couldn't be perfect to put on such a relevant play
You could clearly hear the audiences reactions to such quotes like "as an employee you have no opinion"
Hugh Boneville plays an idealistic scientist, Dr Stockmann, who came up with the idea to build a prosperous spa town. Except the people who had it built placed the water supply in a bog that is polluting the spa
Stockmann has written a report that could change the spa for good but as soon as word gets out all sorts of parties vye for his attention. From the house owners association to the people's paper
By the interval there's a heated argument between Bonneville and William gaminara as the doctors brother and mayor, who is adamant the plans will bring ruin to the town and stockmann
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2016 20:52:02 GMT
Seeing this on Saturday, very much looking forward to it.
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Post by David J on May 4, 2016 11:33:11 GMT
What a thrilling, thought provoking play
There's a large ensemble that is only used in a public meeting scene in the second act. But the scene alone is very gripping, using the entire auditorium
Whatever your views, this play will make you look at yourself by the second act and realise that despite the title, we are all our own enemy. Even the final image of Hugh Bonneville may leave you perturbed
Hugh Bonneville alone gives a riveting performance by the end
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on May 4, 2016 12:28:08 GMT
What was the running time please?
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Post by Honoured Guest on May 4, 2016 12:47:39 GMT
Don't drink the water.
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Post by johng on May 4, 2016 13:05:28 GMT
About 2 hours 20 minutes including the interval
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Post by emsworthian on May 4, 2016 13:31:46 GMT
I'm seeing it next Saturday (14th). When I was leaving "Travels With My Aunt" on Saturday, the audience was just coming out from this and there was a very positive buzz from the people I overheard.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on May 4, 2016 15:44:26 GMT
About 2 hours 20 minutes including the interval Ta wondering if I make the 17:08 train to London Victoria, want to catch the play on at the St James. |
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Post by duncan on May 5, 2016 5:50:45 GMT
Hugh Bonneville on the front of the Telegraph today advertising their review.
#innocentface
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Post by stefy69 on May 5, 2016 6:38:57 GMT
4 star reviews in both The Times and The Guardian for this.
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Post by showgirl on May 5, 2016 8:17:56 GMT
Oh dear, does that mean I "need" to fit this into my already-packed diary? And if I can get a ticket for the only date when I can still go? After too many unrewarding experiences I had added Ibsen to my "Life's Too Short" list.
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Post by DuchessConstance on May 5, 2016 10:49:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2016 10:57:36 GMT
"TV fans of Downton’s slow-paced period drama might be surprised by the red-hot fervour the actor is capable of in his pursuit of satisfaction"
The description "actor" might account for this, but as for satisfaction......... |
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Post by Phantom of London on May 5, 2016 11:00:58 GMT
Wow an Ibsen review in the Sun, I bet if Hugh what his name wasn't in it, it wouldn't have got reviewed.
I can see a massive invatiion of page 3 loving Sun readers descending on Chichester, as they so need their Ibsem.
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Post by DuchessConstance on May 5, 2016 11:08:05 GMT
I'm fairly certain if it wasn't about "press freedom" they wouldn't have reviewed it. The Sun is pretty good at holding onto the past, unless it involves dead football fans.
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Post by David J on May 5, 2016 11:28:21 GMT
It's funny then that the Sun is doing exactly one of the things that the play is addressing.
By the way I forgot to mention this but do avoid the extreme side seats. Those closest to the front end of the stage are fine, but I can just imagine at the other end you'll be watching the play with a wall blocking some of your field of vision.
The production I went to wasnt sold out anyway, with a lot of empty side seats, so hopefully the same will apply for the rest of the run.
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Post by Deleted on May 5, 2016 11:37:58 GMT
The suns review is quite funny and I'm sure reviewed deliberately and worded deliberately and carefully.
Twitter is handy sometimes
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2016 7:58:50 GMT
Saw this yesterday and very much enjoyed it all round - the play, the performances and the staging.
I have never seen an Ibsen play before and it had a lot more humour in it than I was expecting. Not sure if the translation makes any difference (by Christopher Hampton, who I generally like a lot) as I haven't got anything to compare it with.
The theme was pushing an open door with me anyway, but it sure stand the test of time. Some of the more cynical comments about who the majority is made up of made for good discussion about the EU referendum afterwards.
The staging was excellent, and they played to the whole theatre not just the front, though as mentioned the far side seats might have a limited view.
The scene with the public speech was beautifully done, with the cast moving about through the audience and the sound making it feel like we were all in the meeting with them.
Hugh Bonneville excellent and matched by the rest of the cast. Had to wait right until the end before I heard somebody say "oooh, he isn't like he was in Downton is he?" on the way out. I would have been quite disappointed if I hadn't heard somebody say it though!
Well attended but some empty seats toward the back so grab a ticket if you can get to Chichester.
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Post by emsworthian on May 16, 2016 7:57:51 GMT
I saw it on Saturday and enjoyed it. I felt the 30s setting worked well. Beforehand I was worried that the twitterati would titter in inappropriate places and spoil my enjoyment. There was some laughter when Stockmann (Hugh Bonneville) said "I'm sure the liberal press will be on my side." There was also laughter when Mrs Stockmann (Abigail Cruttenden) said to her husband "You've been very busy recently." But these didn't jar as there was quite a lot of humour in this adaptation by Christopher Hampton; I don't recall humour in the few Ibsen plays I've seen previously.
I remember reading an interview with Christopher Hampton in which he said he had streamlined the play as parts of the original translation didn't make sense. I have a volume of Ibsen plays which includes "An Enemy of the People" and the introduction to it says that its running time is nearly three hours (whereas this production lasted 2hrs 30 minutes with a 20 minute interval).
I'd be interested to hear the views of anyone who has seen other adaptations of this play as to what they think of the Christopher Hampton version. I enjoyed it but then I've never seen it before and I've yet to read the text.
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Post by Honoured Guest on May 16, 2016 9:14:45 GMT
If it's Christopher Hampton, I'd expect it's smooth.
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Post by vickster51 on May 17, 2016 11:28:22 GMT
I saw this on Saturday night and found it engaging and enjoyable. As others have mentioned, I was surprised how much humour there was in it and I'd expected it (knowing the story) to be quite dry. Some good performances. I thought Hugh Bonneville played Stockmann well and there was good support from William Gaminara, Adam James (always a favourite of mine) and Alice Orr-Ewing as Stockmann's daughter. I also really liked how they chose to stage the public meeting scene in the second half. If you are around Chichester before it ends on Saturday it's worth a look. For anyone interested in more of my ramblings, my review is here: vickster51corner.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/theatre-review-an-enemy-of-the-people-festival-theatre-chichester/ |
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Post by Phantom of London on May 17, 2016 21:36:20 GMT
Just came out and in Whetherspoons next to my hotel for the night.
I would say this has a very slow fuse, but boy does the powder keg go off at the end.
I agree with the O/P (David) and Jelly Bean that the timing is impeccable with the political situation and seems that 'Brexit' is played out on a small scale here, so very astute.
I heard the Sun reviewed this, which is strange, as they don't go anywhere near an a theatre, must because of the casting of Adam James.
Going to see Travels With My Aunt tomorrow afternoon, but the big drama will be how will I get home, with no trains from Chichester!
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Post by vickster51 on May 18, 2016 10:42:57 GMT
Just came out and in Whetherspoons next to my hotel for the night. I would say this has a very slow fuse, but boy does the powder keg go off at the end. I agree with the O/P (David) and Jelly Bean that the timing is impeccable with the political situation and seems that 'Brexit' is played out on a small scale here, so very astute. I heard the Sun reviewed this, which is strange, as they don't go anywhere near an a theatre, must because of the casting of Adam James. Going to see Travels With My Aunt tomorrow afternoon, but the big drama will be how will I get home, with no trains from Chichester! I think The Sun's angle was linking Mr Bonneville to press freedom. I particularly linked The Guardian's "review/comment piece" on the Sun's review.
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Post by bellboard27 on May 18, 2016 10:49:02 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed this production. The message is strong and highly relevant to today. The build up in the early scenes is perfect, especially knowing the train crash for life and career that is heading towards Stockmann. This adaptation by Christopher Hampton worked for me.
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2016 16:26:17 GMT
...seems that 'Brexit' is played out on a small scale here, so very astute. Yes, and also the "inconvenient truth" about climate change. Hope you get home OK! |
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2016 17:48:19 GMT
I'm sure it's entirely too soon, but I wouldn't mind a modern-dress production set in ooh, say, Michigan. It would be entirely too appropriate for words, and therefore would need to be done with a side of caution.
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