“Un enemic del poble" (An enemy of the people), in the Teatre Lliure, Montjuïc
A liberal Catalan adaptation by Juan Mayorga and Miguel del Arco of Henrik Ibsen’s text can be seen up until the 16th of February
An enemy of the people is one of the more emblematic texts of Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen. Written in 1882, the play tells the story of Thomas Stockmann, a doctor who discovers that the basis for the economy of his town, the spa, contains bacteria which are detrimental to users’ health. Stockmann, committed to telling the truth at whatever cost, faces up to the politicians, the press, and the townspeople.
Playwright and director Miguel del Arco has, in collaboration with Juan Mayorga, adapted this 19th century classic to offer a contemporary version which deals with the abuse of power, corruption, hypocrisy and the common good; contemporary subjects that question both the values of a capitalist society and the role of democracy.
The cast of this version of Un enemic del poble (An enemy of the people), translated to Catalan by Cristina Genebat, is headed by Pere Arquillué in the role of Thomas Stockmann, with Roger Casamajor as his brother, the town’s mayor, in addition to Pablo Derqui, Blanca Apilánez, Jordi Martínez and Mònica López, among others.
The play, which is as pertinent today as it ever was, is roughly two hours long without intermission and can be seen in the Sala Fabià Puigserver of the Teatre Lliure up until the 16th of February.