A review of Enemy by Jerry Proffitt

Note: this is mildly edited to reduce the comments intended specifically for me as a director and student; my goal here is to share the positives of the work we did with the students who were directly involved.

The Chicago College of Performing Arts
Roosevelt University
The Theatre Conservatory
Fast Track Masters in Theatre Program- Thesis Evaluation
Title of Production: An Enemy of the People
Director: Eric Decker John Marshall High School Theatre
Script Selection
A challenging classical play which you adapted into a contemporary and relevant story. The gender blind casting worked and it actually revealed additional nuances to character conflicts and relationships.
Casting
You were able to expand the number of students who could participate in the production by increasing the crowd. Casting females in the traditional male roles worked surprisingly well.
Based on the total cast, you selected appropriately advanced students for the more demanding roles and gave less experienced actors roles in which they could succeed.
Interpretation
Highlighting contemporary people who have taken the moral path against the pressures of society increased the impact of this production. Realizing that this play needed a more intimate production and expending considerable effort to set up an arena playing area on your stage further substantiates your understanding and appreciation for the play. While reversing the traditional casting for this show you realized that Kai Stockman needed a more contemporary male position in the relationship and you made appropriate changes to his lines and actions.
Blocking/Directing
I enjoyed hearing about your blocking process. The students were mostly successful in conveying motivated and natural movement, adjusting frequently to play to each area of the audience. Their blocking revealed emotional states and character relationships.

When Berit tries to discredit or hide the information Alida responded with righteous indignation instead of disbelief. I’d like to believe that her actions are entirely altruistic but she was portrayed as someone more interested in HER discovery than in a genuine concern for the long- term welfare of the town. Part of this may be the way Ibsen has written the character—one who lacks the ability to express herself clearly and to understand the effects of her discovery on others.


The mayor was very effective in addressing the audience at the town meeting. The crowd reacted in a spontaneous manner—the ebb and flow of that scene was excellent. I liked Anthony as the town drunk—a good balance between restraint and letting go.

Ensemble Playing
Your cast was strong ensemble. They gave appropriate focus, took the stage at the right time and were always in the moment.
Characterization

Dieltz brought a good deal of credibility and created significant empathy in his characterization.
Shea conveyed a sophisticated and dynamic mayor. She showed her emotional feelings and vulnerability. Petra and Hovstad were both well portrayed.


Set Design
The furniture was appropriate and supported the new income of the family. The editor’s office was also clearly and believably established. I like the lights in the editor’s office. The wall in front of the stage helped the define the theatre space and featured thought provoking quotes from the script.
Properties
One would expect a man of Aslaksen’s moderation to have a more traditional black umbrella. The furniture was appropriate for each scene, except the metal music stand in Captain’s house. The stock certificates that Marta had been buying up needed more substantial paper and appearance.


Lighting
From my seating position the lighting was even and appropriately illuminated the actors.

Sound
Pre-show and transition music was supportive to the mood. The dance music came from nowhere.

Program
Your program cover is excellent. I enjoyed reading your director’s note and the “scientific perspective” by Dr. Dunbar. The cast and crew bios/pictures are nice and the thank yous seemed to cover a wide spectrum.

Overall Reaction
This was an excellent production, Eric. I enjoyed the performances and was engrossed in the story, which was clearly and energetically told. You are to be commended for the thorough research and script work and for taking the leap to cast females in the principal roles, a decision that made the play more contemporary and utilized your talent base.



Grade: A

Jerry Proffit, Thesis Advisor