Haeeah deWeever, staff writer
Engaging. Exciting. Intimate. Intense. Inspiring. These are just a few of the words Nox Gebbengreen, cast member of “Enemy of the People,” has used to describe Augsburg’s upcoming fall production when interviewed by the Echo. The performance taking to the stage is an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play “An Enemy of the People,” written in 1882.
“This adaptation, created by Sod House Theater, originally is staged in a promenade style of theater where the story travels from space to space creating an atmosphere where the audience feels as if they are a part of the action and the story,” said Darcey Engen, professor and chair of Augsburg’s Theater Arts Department in an interview with the Echo. “It’s been a really satisfying process. The actors have jumped right into playing actors and musicians, there is a really nice interplay between the two.” Every actor in the play has embodied their individual characters, each with their own individual personalities and perspectives. A performance filled with fantastic music, a unique experience and an immersive story, “Enemy of the People” will make you laugh, cry and sing along. To top it all off, the audience will find themselves playing their own part in the climactic ending of the play when the crowd is given the chance to vote, shaping the ending of the story.
“Enemy of the People” will make you laugh, cry and sing along. To top it all off, the audience will find themselves playing their own part in the climactic ending of the play when the crowd is given the chance to vote, shaping the ending of the story.
haeeah deweever
“Enemy of the People” grapples with what a community decides to do when they find out that their water, the source they rely on to bring in tourist dollars, is found to be contaminated and dangerous to the public. Do they keep this information a secret and fix the problem behind the scenes? Or, do they make this information known to the public and avoid any unwanted illnesses for the tourists and visitors? Two siblings (two brothers in the original play and two sisters in this version) disagree over what is the right thing to do.
Within this conflict, the play reveals several additional themes of morality, the power of the press, popular opinion and political manipulations. “The play emphasizes the importance of community, and making serious decisions, together,” Gebbengreen said. At its core, this story is about clean water and how it is essential not just for the community in the play but for all of us in reality, all over the globe. It challenges all of us to think about our own current clean water issues and what would happen if the water we use here in Minnesota and across the country became unusable.
“Enemy of the People” will perform in the Tjornhom-Nelson Theater. It will run Nov. 1-2 and 7-9 at 7 p.m. The last day to see this creative and entrancing story will be Nov. 10 at 3 p.m. It is encouraged to buy your tickets online before arriving at the actual show from the theater box office on the Theater Department webpage. Tickets are discounted for students! Prices are $5 for any current Augsburg student and $12 for the general public. “Enjoy this immersive experience, filled with music and an intense story that thoroughly relates to issues surrounding clean water and the potential politics around it,” Engen urged. “Come enjoy a short, innovative experience right here on campus!”