AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - Southern Connecticut State ...

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AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - Southern Connecticut State ...
Southern Connecticut State University
           Department of Theatre
                    and
            The Crescent Players

AN ENEMY
                  present

OF THE PEOPLE
             A Radio Broadcast
                    by Henrik Ibsen

           Translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling

               Directed by Benjamin Curns

            Sound Design by Nathan Roberts
  Production Dramaturgy by Kat Duffner & Ellis McGinley
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - Southern Connecticut State ...
From top left, clockwise:
Samhain Perez (photo
by SCSU University
Photographers); Leah
Herde and Gary
Robinson Jr. (photos by
Kat Duffner)
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - Southern Connecticut State ...
From left: (back row) Sebastian Cordero, Samhain Perez, Majesty S. Moore, Daniel Santana-Lopez, Gary Robinson Jr., Leah
Herde, Liam Welsh, Matthew Lopes, Sarafina Kolaski, Patrick Ballard, Benjamin Curns, Ariana Harris; (front row) Nicole Thom-
as, Veronic Bennett, Marcel Smith, and Nick Moran. Photo by SCSU University photographers.

                                                               CAST
Narrator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gracy Brown

                                          The Stockmann Family
Dr. Thomas Stockmann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Santana-Gonzalez
Katherine Stockmann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leah Herde
Mayor Peter Stockmann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matthew Lopes
Petra Stockmann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Majesty S. Moore
Ejilif Stockmann / Citizen #5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarafina Kolaski
Morton Stockmann / Citizen #1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ariana Harris
Morton Kiil / Citizen #4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Liam Welsh

                                                    The People's Messenger
Hovstad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gary Robinson Jr.
Billing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sebastian Cordero
Aslaksen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Samhain Perez

                                                              The Town
Captain Horster / Citien #6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Moise B. Nyandu
Captain #2 / Vik / Drunkard, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marcel Smith
Citizen #3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Patrick Ballard
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - Southern Connecticut State ...
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Benjamin Curns
Sound Designer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nathan Roberts
Co-Dramaturgs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kat Duffner & Ellis McGinley
Production Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mike Skinner
Technical Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brandon Fuller
Carpenter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ryan Gardner
Stage Management Mentors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robyn Gostomski & Theresa Stark
Stage Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Veronica Bennet
Assistant Stage Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nicole Thomas
Audio Rehearsal & Recording Engineer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nick Moran
Front of House Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sarah Kolaski
Shop Build Crew. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .TJ Blotney
                                                                                                                          Rushawn Brown
                                                                                                                           Matthew Lopes
                                                                                                                               Ryleigh Rivas
                                                                                                                                Patrick Soldi

                                                                                           Stage Manager Veronica Bennett
                                                                                           with director Benjamin Curns (right)
                                                                                           and Assistant Stage
                                                                                           Manager Nicole Thomas (left)
                                                                                           during rehearsal for An Enemy of the
                                                                                           People. Photos by Kat Duffner.
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - Southern Connecticut State ...
FROM THE DIRECTOR
       When I sat down with the rest of the Theatre Faculty here at SCSU last February to
discuss possible titles for our 2020/21 season, the Covid-19 pandemic had not yet reared
its ugly head. Originally slated to perform in February 2021, Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People
was originally suggested because we thought it would be a potent response to the general
election of November 2020. With our radio production now opening a full month before
the election, our heads are spinning about all the ways this terrific play speaks to our
contemporary American experience.

      There is of course the worldwide pandemic and its grave threat to public health.
However, perhaps even more dangerous is the deliberate and concerted modern effort
to deny science, to dismiss experts, and to value commerce over safety. Dr. Stockmann’s
discovery of bacteria in the town’s water supply may be dismissed as “idle fancy”, “unreliable”,
and “false”, but that doesn’t make the water any safer than believing COVID-19 will disappear
by way of “miracle.” The water is still poisoned no matter how the whistle blower might be
smeared. Just ask the citizens of Flint, MI if you don’t believe me.

      There is the profound influence of mass media and how private interests can
manipulate these sources of information for their own gain. Hovstad and Billing claim they
want a revolution but will print damn near anything so long as the readership keeps buying
The People’s Messenger. Consider Mark Zuckerberg as a modern equivalent: a man who has
promised action to prevent the spread of misinformation on Facebook, but largely chooses
ad revenue over the truth.

        And finally, there is the resurgence in the use of the term “Enemy of the People.” While
its origins lie in ancient Rome, the phrase has since been used by Hitler, Stalin, and most
recently Glenn Beck and, yes, the 45th president of the United States. Like our Dr. Stockmann,
most of those branded with this title are done so for exposing “inconvenient truths.” The term
attacks the speaker, not the speaker’s argument. Which is not to say the Doctor is without
fault; insulting the citizens and dismissing them as an uneducated mob hardly earns him any
support.

        Despite these environmental and political disasters, it has been such a pleasure
creating this play with this talented, fearless, and ambitious group of artists. It really has.
We are lucky; not every college got to stay open this year, and the SCSU community is to be
commended for maintaining health and safety. I am thrilled for the chance to work with such
a diverse, passionate, and supportive cast and am thankful for all that they have taught me.
I’m frankly glad we even got to be in the same room! I’d like to especially thank our Sound
Designer Nathan Roberts and his stellar team of Mike Skinner and Nick Moran. Turning this
production into a radio play presented a rather steep learning curve and these three handled
it with patience, professionalism, and an inspiring enthusiasm. We literally could not have
done this without them.

       I hope you enjoy this radio production of Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People. Even if
the writing or politics are not for you, I have no doubt you’ll be blown away by this fabulous
cast and meticulous crew. Hope to see you back in the theatre before long, but in the
meantime, wear your mask and trust science. The great thing about genuine facts is that they
are always true...

                                                                              Benjamin Curns
                                                               Director, An Enemy of the People
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - Southern Connecticut State ...
WHO’S WHO AT THE MIC
Patrick Ballard (Citizen #3) is very excited to be participating in this
production. This is Patrick’s first time acting at Southern Connecticut State
University; you can typically find him backstage in other productions. He wants
to thank his family for all the love and support they have given him during this
journey.

Sebastian Cordero (Billing) is a Theatre major and Historian for the Crescent
Players. Some of his previous roles include, SCSU Theatre: Red Velvet (Casimir);
Crosby High School: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (George Bailey) and
Radium Girls (Tom/Reporter/Knef/Berry). He would like to thank Ben and the
cast/crew for helping him through this show in such crazy circumstances and
his family/friends for supporting his love for theatre.

Ariana Harris (Morton Stockmann/Citizen #1) is thrilled to be a part of
her first radio play. After having performed at Southern in Lysistrata (Male
Chorus), The Addams Family (Ancestor), Pippin (Player), and The Complete Works
of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Herself/Various), Ariana is excited to have
the chance to work exclusively with her voice for a change. Furthermore, she is
so very happy that theatre is continuing to thrive in this pandemic, and she is
looking forward to sharing the hard work of this stalwart cast with audiences
everywhere. She hopes the listeners enjoy and take from the show as much as
she has.

Leah Herde (Katherine Stockmann) is a Senior Biology major. This is her
fourth show at SCSU, including: Red Velvet (Halina), Pippin (Player) and English
Made Simple (Jill). Some of her previous shows include: The Bridge of San Luis
Rey (Pepita) and On the Twenty-First Century (Anita Highland). She would like
to thank her amazing cast, stage managers and directors for making this
production so special.

Sarafinah C. Kolaski (Ejlif Stockmann/Citizen #5) is a sophomore who has
immensely enjoyed being involved with Crescent Players and this production
of An Enemy of the People. This is her first show acting in a production
on campus. Her favorite role she’s played in her life was Alice in Alice in
Wonderland. She has a lot of love to give to her cast members and everyone
involved and is grateful for her experience in this show.
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - Southern Connecticut State ...
Matthew Lopes (Mayor Peter Stockmann) is a senior Theatre major. His
most recent acting credits with SCSU Theatre include: Red Velvet (Bernard
Warde), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Himself/
Matthew Lopes), Pippin (Charlemagne), The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus
(The Pope/Lucifer), and The Addams Family (Gomez Addams). Matthew was a
Finalist for the 2020 and 2019 KCACTF Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship Award,
Region 1. He would like to thank his family and friends for their support and
this cast/crew for the amazing experience!

Majesty S. Moore (Petra Stockmann) is a freshman Nursing major from
Manchester, CT. She was a member of her high school theatre program for
4 years; however, this is her first production at SCSU. Majesty would like
to thank the cast and crew for making her first theatre production at SCSU
unforgettable.

Moise B. Nyandu (Captain Horster/Citizen #6) is a senior Exercise Science
major and Theatre minor. His most recent acting experience was in Lilies of the
Valley (Bailiff/Citizen #1) in the spring 2019 student-directed one-act festival.
He would like to thank the Theatre Department and the Crescent Players for a
great experience.

Samhain Perez (Aslaksen) is a freshman Theatre major who performed on-
stage throughout his entire high school career. He starred in a wide variety
of plays and musicals including: Oklahoma! (Ike Skidmore), A Midsummer
Night’s Dream (Lysander), High School Musical (Zeke), and was prepared for Les
Miserables (Javert). This will be his first time performing in an SCSU Theatre
production.

Gary Robinson Jr. (Hovstad), from Montclair, New Jersey, is a sophomore
Communication major and Theatre minor. His most recent acting credit
includes: Red Velvet ( Ira Aldridge). Gary is on the SCSU football team and
hosts his own radio show.

Daniel Santana-Gonzalez (Dr. Thomas Stockmann) is a Secondary
Education/History major and this is his first performance with SCSU Theatre.
He is delighted to participate in An Enemy of the People as Thomas Stockmann.
AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE - Southern Connecticut State ...
Marcel Smith (Citizen #2), from Hartford, Connecticut, is a sophomore
               Communication major concentrating in Film, TV, and Digital Production. This
               is Marcel’s first time in an SCSU theatre production. Marcel is also a part of the
               SCSU Track & Field team and is the general manager of WSIN Radio.

               Liam Welsh (Morton Kiil/Citizen #4) is a sophomore playing in his third show
               with SCSU Theatre. This is his 2nd year working with Crescent Players; he also
               works as the Promotions Manager for WSIN Radio on campus. He is thrilled to
               have this opportunity and is thankful for all his Old Saybrook, Southern, and
               Incarnation Camp family for supporting him this far.

                        WHO’S WHO BEHIND THE SCENES
Veronica Bennet (Stage Manager) Veronica Bennet is a senior Comprehensive Special
Education major and Theatre minor. She acted in small productions throughout middle
school, but it wasn’t until college that she fell in love with working behind the scenes. With
SCSU Theatre, Veronica worked on The Addams Family (Deck Carpenter) and even played a
small role as Cousin It during the run! This is Veronica’s third production as Stage Manager;
she previously worked on The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) in Fall 2019
and planned to stage manage the Student Directed One Act Festival in Spring 2020. She wants
to thank Ben, the director, and the cast for being so easy to work with. Veronica also wishes
to thank her stage management mentors, Robyn and Theresa, who guided her through
this super crazy time. She also wants to thank Nicole Thomas (Assistant Stage Manager) for
helping her out and being amazing to work with! Lastly, she wants to thank her parents,
siblings, and boyfriend for supporting her through this whole process and getting her to
where she is today!

Alexina Cristante (Publicity Crew Manager) is a sophomore Music major and Publicity
Crew Manager for the Crescent Players. Her previous SCSU Theatre credits include: Red
Velvet (Costume Run Crew), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (Light Board
Operator), and Pippin (Player). She would like to thank her family and friends for always
helping and being supportive. Enjoy the show!
Benjamin Curns (Director) serves on the Adjunct Faculty of the Department of Theatre at
Southern Connecticut State where he directed last season’s production of Red Velvet and
co-directed The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Benjamin has previously
worked with students at Longwood University (VA), Guilford Tech (NC), and was selected
as the McDermott Visiting Teaching Artist in 2019 for the Shakespeare & Performance
MFA company at Mary Baldwin University (VA). Directing credits include national touring
productions of Macbeth, Romeo & Juliet, Julius Caesar, and Much Ado About Nothing (American
Shakespeare Center); Coriolanus, As You Like It (Shakespeare Academy @ Stratford); ‘Diggers,
Shakespeare on Ice (World Premiere, Blackfriars Conference), The Boy (Philadelphia Fringe),
Arsenic & Old Lace (Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre), and Cymbeline, 2 Henry IV, Othello,
The Winter’s Tale, The Tempest, All’s Well That Ends Well (American Shakespeare Center
Young Company). As an actor, Benjamin’s work has been seen on television, web-series,
independent film, and stages in New York and regional theatres such as The Repertory
Theatre of St. Louis, PlayMakers Rep, Virginia Stage, and the American Shakespeare Center
where he played over 100 roles in 60 different productions including the title roles in Richard
III, Macbeth, and Henry VIII. Benjamin received his MFA in Acting from the Professional
Actors Training Program at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was also
awarded the David Hammond Award for Excellence in Dramatic Art. Benjamin is a proud
member of Actors Equity and holds the rank of Advanced Actor/Combatant with the Society
of American Fight Directors where he was also awarded the David Boushey Founder’s Award
for Excellence in Unarmed Combat. Currently, Benjamin is a company member with the
Elm Shakespeare Company where he serves as an actor, musician, and teacher. Visit www.
benjamincurns.com for more info!

Kat Duffner (Co-Dramaturg) is a junior Theatre major and Creative Writing minor who works
as Events Coordinator for the Crescent Players. Past SCSU Theatre acting credits include:
Red Velvet (Ellen Tree), The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus (Chorus), and The Door (Justin). Her
SCSU Theatre tech credits include: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Deck
Carpenter), Pippin (Costume Crew Head), and The Addams Family (Costume Crew). She is so
proud of all the work put into An Enemy of the People and would like to congratulate the cast
and crew on this production!

Brandon Fuller (Technical Director) is working on his sixth production with SCSU Theatre:
The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus, Student Directed One-Acts, Pippin, The Complete
Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), and Red Velvet. He’s pleased to be back! He has
many credits within New Haven and Connecticut, including being a company member of A
Broken Umbrella Theatre, and production work at Yale Repertory Theatre, Elm Shakespeare,
ShowMotion, Phoenix Entertainment, and the Goodspeed Opera House, among others. He
also works nationally with Productions On Point, providing management, surveying, drafting
and layout services for large events.

Ellis McGinley (Co-Dramaturg) is a Freshman Exploratory Arts & Humanities student. An
Enemy of the People is their first production with SCSU Theatre! Previous theatre credits
include the Capital Theatre: Funny Girl (Costume Crew) and Getting Out (Costume Design).

Nick Moran (Sound Crew Manager/Production Audio Rehearsal & Recording Engineer)
is a sophomore Theatre major and Computer Science minor who works as Sound Crew
Manager for the Crescent Players. His previous work with SCSU Theatre includes: Pippin
(Light Board Operator), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Sound Board
Operator), and Red Velvet (Assistant Stage Manager). He would like to thank the cast and crew
of An Enemy of the People for a wonderful performance and is very excited to be a part of such
a unique show!
Nathan Roberts (Sound Designer) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, instrument-
maker, and sound designer who specializes in creating original music and soundscapes
for plays, often live onstage. For the Crescent Players and SCSU Theatre: Red Velvet, Pippin,
RENT, Godspell, Urinetown, Shakespeare in Hollywood, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Off
Broadway: WP Theater: Natural Shocks; Theater for a New Audience: The Servant of Two
Masters; The Acting Company: Julius Caesar, Macbeth; The Playwrights Realm:Crane Story,
Dramatis Personae; HERE: Olives and Blood. Regional: Oregon Shakespeare Festival: The Way
the Mountain Moved, Sense and Sensibility; Baltimore Center Stage: Miss You Like Hell, Fun Home,
The Christians, Les Liaisons Dangereuses; Milwaukee Rep: Animal Farm; Dallas Theater Center/
Guthrie Theater: Sense and Sensibility; The Old Globe: Tokyo Fish Story; Ford’s Theatre: The
Widow Lincoln, Our Town; Yale Repertory Theater: Assassins, Accidental Death of an Anarchist,
The Servant of Two Masters; Hartford Stage: Twelfth Night, The Tempest; Long Wharf Theatre: It’s
a Wonderful Life. Other: designs and builds musical instruments, with a special emphasis on
flutes and hurdy-gurdies. Education: MFA, Yale School of Drama. Faculty: Lecturer in Theater
and Performance Studies, Yale University.

Mike Skinner (Production Manager) is an Associate Professor and Chairperson for the
Department of Theatre. Sound Design Credits include: Regional: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio
Play, Two Trains Running, Underneath the Lintel (Triad Stage); Mamma Mia, Cabaret, 1776,
Sweeney Todd (CT Critics Circle Award Nomination 2019), Disaster! (broadwayworld.com Best
Sound Design Nominee 2018), Jesus Christ Superstar, Noises Off!, Peter and The Starcatcher
(broadwayworld.com Best Sound Design Nominee 2016), Newsies, How to Succeed…, Peter
Pan, Xanadu, Les Miserables, Gypsy, The Sunshine Boys, A Chorus Line (Connecticut Repertory
Theatre); Bossa Nova (Yale Rep); A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, Love’s Labour’s
Lost (Elm Shakespeare Company); Other designs for: W.H.A.T., H.E.R.E., N.Y.M.F.; University
Faculty Designs for: Fordham, John Jay College, Quinnipiac, Southern CT State, The Actors
Conservatory, Amherst College. Education: MFA, Yale School of Drama. Listen to some of
Mike’s compositions at skinnerdesign.podbean.com or check his acoustic trio, VAMP42 at
facebook.com/VAMP42Band/.

Keegan Smith (Construction Crew Manager) is a junior Honors College student studying
Psychology with minors in Religious Studies and Theatre. He is very excited to be involved
with another Crescent Players production (but behind the scenes now)! While this is his first
tech credit, his past acting credits at SCSU include Red Velvet (Henry Forrester), Pippin (Lewis),
Lilies in the Valley (Sam), The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus (Dick/Envy/Devil), and The Addams
Family (Pugsley). Usually a performer, Keegan is grateful for the opportunity to explore
the technical elements of theatre and be a part of building the isolation booths for Enemy
of the People. He would like to thank Brandon Fuller and Ryan Gardner for their guidance
and patience and thank the Crescent Player members for their votes to get to this position.
Cheers to all involved and he hopes everyone enjoys this one-of-a-kind theatre experience in
this one-of-a-kind time!
Dramaturg Note

							                                        Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was the son of a
                                               merchant father and artistic mother. A short
                                               eight years after he was born, his poverty-
                                               stricken family was forced to move to a farm.
							                                          At fifteen, he began work as an apothecary
apprentice. After several years, he began writing plays and managing theaters full time. After
living in several places in Norway, he moved to Italy, where he continued to write. Despite
being one of the leaders of the time in feminist plays, he had several infatuations and affairs
with young women, fathering at least one illegitimate child. Upon his return to Norway, he
was celebrated as an author and playwright. In 1906, after multiple strokes years before, his
nurse told a visitor that he was doing a bit better, to which Ibsen replied “on the contrary”
before passing away. He received a state funeral honoring his influence on literature and
drama. Today, he is regarded as the father of modern drama for his heavy influence in the
transition from Romanticism to Realism.
       When Henrik Ibsen published his play Ghosts in 1881, there was outrage at how
overtly he addressed adultery and sexually transmitted diseases. He was berated by critics
for writing this controversial play, which spurred him to write An Enemy of the People. Enemy
centers around a respected man at the top of his scientific field. In a time when most
places had a single doctor, he is well known by everyone in the town. When he discovers
that a preventable public health crisis is being overlooked, he is censored and discredited
by those who wish to save their fortunes over the lives being put in danger. Having only a
small number of supporters, he and his family suffer consequences at the hands of a self
interested government and a town that has only one source of
information.
        Our version of the play was translated by Eleanor Marx-
Aveling. Daughter of Karl Marx and Socialist activist in her own right,
she translated between ten and fifteen dramas and other works
of literature before her death in 1898. The play as it is translated is
distinctly relevant to a plethora of social issues, including classism,
overbearing government, and the government-sanctioned censorship
of scientists, educators, and citizens.
       One of many present parallels to the show is Flint, Michigan’s
ongoing water crisis. In spring of 2014, it came to the public’s
attention that the water in Flint had been contaminated by lead
pipes. The push for change and attention was led by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, who would
soon find herself under intense pressure from local government to handle the situation
quietly. Four years later, Dr. Hanna-Attisha has published a book about her experiences—
What the Eyes Don’t See—and the replacement process for Flint’s pipes is still ongoing. Brain
damage and other lasting effects of lead poisoning
will haunt the city for generations to come.
        And a century and a half prior, newspaper
offices like the one seen in An Enemy of the People
would also have the ear of the public—in the
midst of the so-called Newspaper War, with Joseph
Pulitzer of the New York World and William Hearst’s
New York Journal. The fierce rivalry between the
two would produce yellow journalism (ever heard
of clickbait?), an era in journalism marked by
sensationalist headlines, flagrant twisting of truth,
and a constant manipulation of the middle class’
public opinion. It is this middle class that we see
displayed in the midst of Ibsen’s play now; fresh
off the economic boom Norway experienced after
establishing its own constitution and merging
with the kingdom of Sweden, his workers are quick to shed their blue collars but haven’t yet
forgotten the injustices of a tight-fisted upper class.
      Despite the fact that Enemy was written over a hundred years ago, the play remains
hauntingly familiar to a modern audience. From a corrupt government with a totalitarian
head, to people in media being too easily swayed, to a disbelief in science, to a society that
places capital gain above the health of unknowing victims, we have to wonder how we have
allowed this to continue.
                                                                 Kat Duffner & Ellis McGinley
                                                                        Production Dramaturgs
UPCOMING
                                          Sweat
                                 by Lynn Nottage
                          Directed by Dexter J. Singleton
                        A Virtually Streamed Performance
        Streaming November 19-21 at 8:00PM and November 21 & 22 at 2:00PM

Filled with warm humor and tremendous heart, Sweat tells the story of a group of friends
   who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets, and laughs while working together
 on the factory floor. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust,
 the friends find themselves pitted against each other in a heart-wrenching fight to stay
                                          afloat.
                     https://insidesouthernct.edu/theatre/productions

                 For more news from the Department of Theatre,
                 like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram!
Crescent Players 2020-21 Board
  President/Properties Crew Manager, Leah Herde
  Treasurer/Producer’s Representative, Patrick Ballard
  Secretary, Robert Porter
  Historian, Sebastian Cordero
  Events Coordinator, Kat Duffner
  Publicity Crew Manager, Alexina Cristante
  Sound Crew Manager, Nick Moran
  Electrics Crew Manager, TJ Blotney
  Construction Crew Manager, Keegan Smith
  Paint Crew Manager, Nicole Thomas
  Front of House Crew Manager, Sarafina Kolaski

  Follow Crescent Players on Instagram and Twitter; and like
  on Facebook for news about upcoming events!

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