Displaying items by tag: Eleanor MarxAveling
'An Enemy of the People' not your average period piece
"In real life, you're exploited by the moneyed class and then you die." says Petra in Robert Falls' new production of 'An Enemy of the People' at Goodman Theatre. His adaptation of Ibsen's 1882 play, spends two and a half hours exploring the theme of freedom.
"An Enemy of the People" is set in an ambiguous time and place but the highly conceptualized world in which this production exists is familiar. In it, idealistic small-town Doctor Stockmann (Philip Earl Johnson) discovers the water supply is poisoned. Hoping to save the town, he's politically thwarted by his brother the mayor (Scott Jaeck).
Robert Falls adapted the script from a translation by Eleanor Marx-Aveling and it's got some teeth. As Arthur Miller adapted Ibsen's play in 1950 to fit the McCarthy era, Falls aims his at Trumpism. Despite some occasional lapses in subtlety, this version chugs along at an urgent pace. Some liberties are taken with Ibsen's script but, given the current political climate, the topical dialogue fuels the thrilling intensity. Even 130 years later, this play is still a warning.
The square-off between Philip Earl Johnson and Scott Jaeck for the town's soul is all too relevant. Johnson physically exhausts himself trying to scream the truth while a calm and dignified Jaeck lulls the townspeople into submission. They're both so convincing you're almost able to see both sides, which is precisely the danger. Many of the most provocative lines come from Petra played by Rebecca Hurd. Her performance is sincere and brings more depth to the character than just what's in the dialogue.
It's an event when Robert Falls produces a classic at Goodman. 'Enemy of the People' lives up to the hype. As he's done with Chekhov, Falls has a vision for these plays that is far from the faithful productions of yore. It's essential for directors to reinterpret these classics for new eras. It's how a younger generation will connect with Ibsen. This version is well designed and brightly colored. Almost too cheerful for the subject matter. The costumes will leave you unsure of the time period, but that's the point. Whatever the era, the costumes are chic and the sets are memorable. This isn't your average period piece melodrama.
This production is exciting from beginning to end. There's not a moment of dead air. The dialogue is fresh and mirrors the absurd hypocrisy of our times. There's a lot of lightness in this play, and it's not until afterward that the darkness of its themes settle in. That might be one of it's strongest assets, it's so engaging you forget how bleak the conclusion is. If you don't leave this play angry, there's probably something wrong with you.
Through April 15th at Goodman Theatre 170 North Dearborn. 312-443-5151
Class is back in session with Victory Gardens’ World Premiere of The Humanities
19 September 2026 in Theatre in ReviewCoincidentally (or not), Victory Gardens’ new play about a controversial campus speaker opens just days after the one-year anniversary of…
Layered, Lovely, and Lasting; The Joffrey Ballet's Liliom Lights up The Lyric Opera
18 September 2026 in Dance in ReviewSometimes when reach into the past to resurrect or revive an old story, it doesn’t age well. The subject matter…
Cast and Production Team Announced for Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre's THE NICETIES, October 31 – November 15
18 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFleetwood -Jourdain Theatre, an award-winning theatre company that has been thrilling audiences with over four decades of unique, inspirational, and invigorating Black…
Goodman’s centennial is its all‑time most successful year, with 300,000 patrons at 4,000 performances & events
18 September 2026 in Theatre BuzzThe Goodman wraps its 2025/2026 Centennial Season, an unprecedented line-up marking the 100th anniversary of Chicago's flagship not-for-profit theater, as the…
Kokandy Productions’ Jekyll & Hyde: A Fearless Reworking Elevated
17 September 2026 in Theatre in ReviewKokandy Productions’ Jekyll & Hyde, now presented by Broadway In Chicago at the Broadway Playhouse, arrives with the momentum of…
THE PRINCESS BRIDE to have Pre-Broadway World Premiere in Chicago July 19 - August 22, 2027
16 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreProducer Jeffrey Seller and Broadway In Chicago have announced the world-premiere of the new musical THE PRINCESS BRIDE will begin performances in…
American Son - Friendship Community Place - Through October 4th
16 September 2026 in Now PlayingGhostlight Ensemble's production of American Son, written by Christopher Demos-Brown and directed by Ebby Offord, opens on Friday, September 18,…
MARRIOTT THEATRE REVEALS A 2027 SEASON OF SHOWSTOPPING MUSICALS AND BELOVED STORIES
16 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreMarriott Theatre, Chicagoland's longest-running musical theatre, presents its 2027 subscription season featuring five thrilling and memorable musicals: Pippin, A Gentleman's Guide to…
Kokandy Productions Concludes 2026 Season with A CLOCKWORK ORANGE: A PLAY WITH MUSIC November 5, 2026 – January 10, 2027 - Full Casting Announced!
15 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreKokandy Productions is pleased to conclude its 2026 Season with A Clockwork Orange: A Play with Music, a live adaptation of Anthony Burgess's dystopian…
Raíces to Roots’ Unpacking Home - Collaboraction's House of Belonging - Through September 27th
15 September 2026 in Now PlayingCollaboraction Theatre Company is thrilled to host a limited run of Unpacking Home by Chicago’s Raices to Roots as part of the 9th Destinos…
Identity Performing Arts Celebrates 5 Years with Gala Performance at MCA's Edlis Neeson Theater October 18th
14 September 2026 in Upcoming DanceIdentity Performing Arts celebrates five years as a dance company embracing artistic innovation, collaboration and community at their Fifth Anniversary Gala at MCA…
BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA - Do we listen to each other as much as birdsongs?
14 September 2026 in Theatre in ReviewBirds of North America, written by Anna Ouyang Moench, is a story of a father daughter relationship spanning a decade…
Gwydion Theatre Delivers More than a Satire in Lynn Nottage’s Por’ Knockers
13 September 2026 in Theatre in ReviewLynn Nottage is a skilled playwright, and prolific especially considering the high quality of her works: Pulitzer winners Ruined and…
The Dancing Delivers What the Dialogue Doesn’t in Dirty Dancing: The Musical
12 September 2026 in Theatre in ReviewIn a world of theatrical adaptations, there really are two kinds: some reinvent their source material, becoming their own “new”…
Divergent Viewpoints Distract: The Birth of the Pill at Timeline Theatre
11 September 2026 in TheatreThere are always two sides to every story. The writer or playwright will tell a story offering key details and…
Go Behind The SCREAM: A Live Conversation with David Arquette following a 30th Anniversary screening of SCREAM, one-night-only at Aurora’s Paramount Theatre, Saturday, October 24 at 8 p.m.
10 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreBe part of a night filled with suspense, stories, and special moments this Halloween season when David Arquette goes Behind the…
GDC Premieres New Work by Al Blackstone in "untamed passion" at the North Shore Center November 6th and 7th
10 September 2026 in Upcoming DanceGiordano Dance Chicago (GDC), America's original jazz dance company, returns to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501…
Dance Theatre of Harlem returns to Chicago for first time in 10 years at The Auditorium October 17th
10 September 2026 in Upcoming DanceThe Auditorium (Chicago's landmark stage at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) begins its 2026-27 Dance Season titled North American Dance…
The Gift Theatre announces casting for Netta Walker's Hayward
09 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe Gift Theatre, led by Artistic Directors Brittany Burch and Jennifer Glasse, continues its 25th Anniversary Season with the world premiere…
Steep Opens New Home with Simon Stephens' U.S. Premiere A Slow Fire
09 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreSteep Theatre will open its new theater this coming January with the U.S. Premiere of playwright Simon Stephens' A Slow…
Go behind the scenes of House of the Exquisite Corpse, Chicago’s only puppet haunted house, with new All-Inclusive Experience, October 8-25 at Steppenwolf’s The Merle
09 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreWant to go behind-the-scenes of Chicago’s one and only puppet haunted house? Rough House Puppet Arts’ House of the Exquisite Corpse returns October…
Full Casting Announced for Steppenwolf Theatre Company's ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE – October 22 – December 6, 2026 – World Premiere!
08 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreSteppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to announce full casting for its world premiere of…
Porchlight Announces "Little Shop of Horrors" Cast & Creative Team
08 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to announce the cast and creative team of the first mainstage production of…
Chicago Premiere of Tin Drum Theatre's A DARK WOOD to be performed at Greenhouse Theater Center, Oct 15 - Nov 1
08 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreTin Drum Theatre Company is proud to announce that tickets are now on sale for the Chicago premiere of A Dark Wood, October…
Embrace The Change: Menopause the Musical® 25th Anniversary Tour to play Aurora’s Paramount Theatre Saturday, October 17 at 3 p.m.
08 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreThe hilarious musical parody Menopause the Musical® is on a 25th Anniversary National Tour this fall, and Aurora’s Paramount Theatre is the…
Paramount’s Mean Girls Delivers a Fierce, Fetch Night Out
07 September 2026 in Theatre in ReviewThis new staging of Mean Girls the Musical, now playing at Paramount Theatre in Aurora’s downtown theatre district, brings Tina…
The Man Who Fell - Trap Door Theatre - Through September 19th
07 September 2026 in Now PlayingTrap Door Theatre is thrilled to begin its 33rd season with the World Premiere of The Man Who Fell with…
Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Dark Children’s Tale Translates to Stellar Show in ’The Man Who Fell with the Rain’
06 September 2026 in Theatre in ReviewAn exceptionally good show is now on stage at Chicago’s Trap Door Theatre. This wonder—The Man Who Fell with the…
'The Snow Queen' presented by The Impostors Theatre Co. November 6th through November 21st
04 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreAfter their award winning year, The Impostors Theatre Company (ITC) opens Season Eight with the highly anticipated world-premiere of The…
City Lit announces August Wilson's KING HEDLEY II October 16 through November 29 - here the cast
04 September 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFull cast and production team have been announced for City Lit's production of August Wilson's KING HEDLEY II, to play…
Latest Articles
-
Cast and Production Team Announced for Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre's THE NICETIES, October 31 – November 15
Written by Buzz Center StageFleetwood -Jourdain Theatre, an award-winning theatre company that has been thrilling audiences with over four decades of unique, inspirational, and invigorating Black American and African Diaspora-centered storytelling, has announced the cast and production team for the final production of its 2026 season. THE… -
Goodman’s centennial is its all‑time most successful year, with 300,000 patrons at 4,000 performances & events
Written by Buzz Center StageThe Goodman wraps its 2025/2026 Centennial Season, an unprecedented line-up marking the 100th anniversary of Chicago's flagship not-for-profit theater, as the most successful in its history. Today, the theater released its "A Century of Impact" report, detailing milestone programming and attendance…
-
Class is back in session with Victory Gardens’ World Premiere of The Humanities
Written by John AccroccoCoincidentally (or not), Victory Gardens’ new play about a controversial campus speaker opens just days after the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Returning from a lengthy hiatus, Victory Gardens once again lights up the Biograph Theater with the world… -
Layered, Lovely, and Lasting; The Joffrey Ballet's Liliom Lights up The Lyric Opera
Written by Kendall RoyzenSometimes when reach into the past to resurrect or revive an old story, it doesn’t age well. The subject matter could be problematic, the material divisive, the cultural context lost through the fabric of time. Without proper context we tend…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.