A review of Enemy by Lindsey Phillips

Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Dear Mr. Decker and Cast
My name is Lindsey Phillips and I recently came to see your production of Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen. I wanted to write a short note and tell you what I thought. Im sure that you receive negative feedback more often, but rarely hear the positive thoughts people have. I think most people on the whole are not as quick with compliments as they are with criticism. I thought your production was the best play I have ever seen at John Marshall High School.
Now, a little background on me, Im not one to give compliments easily. Id fall into the aforementioned category. I have a BA in Theatre and English, so I tend to be fairly harsh and with my feedback. Translation, Im kind of a Theatre snob sometimes. :)
I found your production energetic, fluid and fresh. It was culturally relevant to whats going on in our society today, however I felt that you preserved the original story. I could tell that you, as the Director, had spent quite a bit of time with the actors talking about the feelings, emotions and thoughts behind the words. It was not high school kids up there, repeating some words that some dead guy wrote down 100 years ago. It was real; it was intense, and, I didnt want it to end!
I thought your choice of the theatre-in-the-round setting was absolutely perfect! Had the audience been sitting in the proscenium setting I think we would have felt very disengaged and disconnected. I was on the edge of my seat the entire play. The entrances through the voms were perfect. You truly felt like you were sitting in the Stockmann home.
Lastly, I loved the gender reversal!! I thought your choice to have two sisters at war instead of brothers was absolutely brilliant! It added a whole new level to the story! Your casting was wonderful. I really thought the entire production was perfect.
Thank you for a very enjoyable evening of theatre!
Best of luck in your future theatre endeavors.
Sincerely,

~Lindsey J Phillips