A Public Enemy, İBB City Theatres, 6.11.2024, Üsküdar Musahipzade Celal Sahnesi (Istanbul)

Basic Info:

• Written by: Henrik IBSEN - Original Name - Date: En Folkefiende, 1882

  Translated by: Dilek BAŞAK CARELİUS

  Directed by: Orhan ALKAYA

  Dramaturgy: Sinem ÖZLEK

  Music: Turgay ERDENER

  Set Design: Tomris KUZU

  Costume Design: Duygu CAN

  Choreography: Özge MİDİLLİ

  Lighting Design: Murat İŞÇİ

  Sound Effects Design: Ersin AŞAR

  Lyrics: Orhan ALKAYA

  Rehearsal Pianist: Burçak ÇÖLLÜ

  Assistant Directors: Yağmur ULUSOY GÖKTÜRK, Ertan KILIÇ, Elif VERİT

  Prompter: Zeynep KÖYLÜ

Link: https://sehirtiyatrolari.ibb.istanbul/oyun/bir-halk-dusmani

This is a long play - 3 hours including intermission of 15 minutes (I ate a kokoreç and listened to the details of the financial difficulties the place owner is going through)

In the car, I was listening to Nunca Quedas Mal con Nadie by Los Prisoneros, whom I came to know while listening the audiobook version of Zizek’s Heaven in Disorder. Nunca Quedas Mal con Nadie is a criticism of people that appear to be protesting but never risk being openly antagonistic or upsetting anyone or a group of people especially when they are in power.

I listened to the book building up to the elections and Trump got re-elected. Since Zizek’s book is written in 2020-2021, and includes reactions to pandemic, as well as a lot on Trump, now will serve as a primer to the new term.

I think Dr. Stockmann’s battle is a lost cause. I think Moll Valley industries now own the world, the communication channels, the armies and the bunch. Dr. Stockmann as stubborn and unyielding as he is still promotes optimism. In today’s world, Dr. Stockmann would be accused of some sexual scandal of sorts and would be kept in jails all around the world and he renounces.

The town hall meeting, where the audience becomes the town hall participant and somehow part of the play - lights also turning on - felt quite interesting. Also the musical presentations between scenes where interesting.

It is very interesting how this play is relevant in today’s world on so many levels; whistleblower (annihilation), environmental crisis / unchecked private enterprise, corporately corrupt media, and endless populism…