Enemy of the People @ The Duke of York’s Theatre, London

Playing a doctor of a different kind, Matt Smith is the truth exposing doctor Thomas Stockmann in a small (but polluted) small town. And deeply unpopular as a result…

Meanwhile, Stockmann’s daughter has been rewritten as his wife Katharina (Jessica Brown Findlay). Whilst Matt Smith gets to be focused, passionate, selfish and exposing, Brown Findlay doesn’t get a lot to do beyond seething frustration. She is basically a one woman household as her husband doesn’t help around the house or with their new baby — she struggles to do anything she wants to do, due to her husband’s self-focus. A celebration of marriage, motherhood/parenthood this is not.

In contrast, Stockmann’s bureaucratic brother Peter (Paul Hilton) is the local Mayor. They clash at every level — including whether Thomas’s data is valid, and whether the revenue generating public baths should be closed due to contaminated water.

But the play belongs to Priyanga Burford (Aslaksen), who is incredibly brave — handing over the public town meeting to the audience — complete with microphones! (And letting us share our opinions and enter into debate). Tremendous acting as the cast react and interact in character to what is said; she abley handles ‘public’ criticism with political aplomb.

Another star of the show is Stockmann’s father-in-law’s dog, who gets an ‘aaaaah’ every time he appears on stage. Steadfast Nigel Lindsay plays Morten Kiil, popping in and out of their family home at random.

The staging is also the star here — a quotable stage curtain sets the scene, along with a terrific Clash soundtrack. The cast appear on stage before the curtain has even raised. Music is used wonderfully throughout as the Stockmanns are part of a band — their creative lifestyle at odds with the highly organised Peter. The fun chalkboard backdrops are utilised to show time passing, literally whitewashed as the truth is hidden by the powers that be and very much part of the show. Paint is also used — thrown over one character and Matt Smith is literally paint bombed into silence.

Matt Smith crystalises his interpretation of Stockmann when he launches into a passionate speech about the nature of truth in a lie obsessed society. Fundamentally should the truth be told and followed, even if it damages people’s livelihoods, the economy and society and culture? Or is it better to carry on, suppress the truth and ignore the fatal consequences? Unfortunately there are repercussions for the Stockmanns who are left mirroring each other in stunned silence, seething with resentment and confusion.

Whilst perhaps it never gets as close as it could to the nature of truth vs lies, it’s an engaging, stylish and brave version of the Ibsen play.

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