PicksInSix Gold Review: An Enemy of the People - TimeLine Theatre Company

What Is The Price Of Truth?
PicksInSix® Gold Review | Ed Tracy

Precisely timed at an inflection point for the long-term stability of the performing arts in Chicago, TimeLine Theatre Company has accomplished the nearly impossible dream of planning, funding and opening a state-of-the-art black box theater that has all the makings of providing not only a sparkling, much-needed new venue for creative artists, but also a shimmering anchor for the Uptown neighborhood. It is an unqualified, stellar, multi-faceted achievement!

The opening production—the Chicago premiere of Amy Herzog’s new version of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People” superbly directed by TimeLine Company Member Ron OJ Parson—teams veteran TimeLine talent with exciting new actors to present a riveting drama that feels fresh, edgy and of-the-moment. And as much as the play is the thing, the aura throughout the building at last Thursday’s opening can only be described as electric long before the lights came up on John Culbert’s impressive set design—a versatile, bi-level interior that towers over the thrust stage configuration. Indeed, the black box itself, seating 250 and rising nearly three floors, provides an unmatched view for the audience of the action transpiring only feet away.

The Ibsen classic is high moral drama, raising the stakes for a small community in the late 1800s Norway trying to survive in the face of a health crisis that threatens the lives and livelihood of everyone involved, including the present and future generations of one family at the center of the story. Will Allan plays Herzog’s Dr. Thomas Stockmann whose research has concluded that the town’s baths, the lifeline of the tourist economy, have been dangerously contaminated. When word of his findings begin to emerge within a close-knit group that includes his daughter Petra (Campbell Krausen), a family friend, Captain Horster (Charles Andrew Gardner), and those responsible for the local paper, Billing (Kenneth Hamilton), Aslaksen (Anish Jethmalani) and Hovstad (Grayson Kennedy), a wave of righteous indignation initially sets in supporting Stockmann’s plan to present his findings. But when Stockmann’s brother and town mayor Peter (Behzard Dabu) gets wind of the story and raises doubts, support quickly evaporates and the tenor shifts radically away from full disclosure to hysteria and resentment. Stockmann’s case is further complicated by his father-in-law Morten Kill (David Parkes) who tips the scales on another level altogether.

Allan’s raw, passionate and finely nuanced portrayal of Stockmann brims with confidence and turns with powerful conviction, especially in his point-blank confrontations with Peter that Dabu effortlessly unravels as Herzog’s sinister, calculating opportunist who sacrifices all decency to undermine any point of view that he does not share. That familiar toppling of opinion rapidly washes over everyone except Krausen’s endearing and captivating turn as Petra and Gardner’s poised Horster, whose stalwartly loyal support holds the key to what may come next. It is a story for our time and in Parson’s expert hands, carves a wide path of fire and fury.

The creative team delivers a visually stunning palette of the period merging Christine Pascual’s exquisite costumes, evocative lighting by Brandon Wardell, a signature sound design by André Pluess and a flurry of ingenious properties of all sorts and sizes by Nicolas Bartleson.

As TimeLine meets this moment, all that has transpired before is merely the foundation—and excitement—for what is to come. The pride in accomplishment for a permanent home is richly deserved and can be seen and felt around every corner. What lies ahead is a new era for TimeLine and their unique interpretation of works, the next chapter of a theater company that has never compromised itself, pushing forward and executing at the highest level again and again. And we will have the enduring pleasure of watching, learning and enjoying that work for years to come.

PHOTO | Brett Beiner Photography

TimeLine Theatre Company
presents
Chicago Premiere
An Enemy of the People
5035 North Broadway
EXTENDED through June 27, 2026

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PROGRAM

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PicksInSix Review: The Lehman Trilogy - Timeline Theatre Company | Broadway in Chicago

Searching For The Next Big Thing!
PicksInSix® Gold Review | Ed Tracy

Though it's not customarily appropriate to disclose the ending of a dramatic piece up front—and certainly one as consequential as the Chicago premiere of the 2022 Tony Award-winning “The Lehman Trilogy,” a brilliantly staged co-production of TimeLine Theatre Company and Broadway in Chicago that opened at the Broadway Playhouse on Wednesday night—there it is right in front of us all at the top of the show: A blinding frenzy of news reports cascading across multiple screens on Collette Pollard’s striking, multi-level set composed of stacks of banker’s boxes, copy machines and office furniture. Few born before 1990 will need to know much more about the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis that toppled world financial organizations and placed tremendous hardship on America’s middle class.

“The Lehman Trilogy” serves as a rich and compelling reflection of our troubling financial times and a largely fact-based interpretation of the journey that led to this unimaginable end. The story hinges on the notion that the events that we know all too well are actually a consequence of succession and not of the vision and passion of its founders.

Wisely, and with blistering speed, “The Lehman Trilogy” focuses on the burgeoning path of their family pilgrimage to America, their aspirations and legacy. We first meet Heyum ‘Henry’ Lehman (Mitchell J. Fain), the eldest brother and patriarch of the family empire, as he arrives in New York in September 1844 and establishes a storefront business in Montgomery, Alabama.  Henry is joined by Mendel ‘Emanuel’ (Anish Jethmalani) in a few years and then by younger brother Maier ‘Mayer’ (Joey Slotnick).

Stefano Massini’s script, adapted by Ben Power, introduces several dozen characters—heirs, wives and business partners—who first emerge as brokers in the cotton industry in the pre-Civil War years; expand their influence with a major move to New York City that would eventually diversify business models during the Industrial Revolution and into the emerging Stock Market and then on to investment banking operations. Along the way, the Lehman’s developed dynamic investment philosophies and successfully navigated the aftermath of the 1929 Stock Market Crash in the face of enormous challenges.

Through it all, there is a willingness by the Lehmans to constantly look for opportunity—the next big thing—by taking a simple idea and making money with it. Lots of money.

Perhaps the most important element of this epic tale is not the accomplishments of the Lehmans to perpetuate their version of the American Dream, but rather the brilliantly imaginative way the story is told: with only three extraordinarily talented actors playing all roles over the course of the three-act production, one that moves so swiftly and with such grace, humor and pathos that we feel a sense of wonder and awe at every turn.  

There is an economy of scale to the entire production that co-directors Nick Bowling and Vanessa Stalling have baked into every scene that is worthy of a Lehman investment. At one moment, the Lehman brothers are head-to-head passionately debating the next iteration of the company or one is playfully wooing a partner into marriage. In the next moment, characters shift, the stage is on fire and the story launches forward, challenging the emergence of the next generation of the family to cope with molding America’s investment infrastructure on their own. It’s all together a fascinating adventure tale.

Pollard’s towering scenic landscape is richly amplified by the collective brilliance of John Culbert’s lighting design, Anthony Churchill’s projections, André Pluess soundscape and Izumi Inaba’s period costumes.

In truth, Robert Lehman, the last of the Lehman heirs to run the company in this exuberant, fast-paced and superbly staged production, passed away in 1969. The play then races to its conclusion with mergers, buyouts and the highly questionable move to mortgage acquisitions that led to the eventual collapse with nary a Lehman in sight.

By that time in the piece, having been gloriously entertained by these gifted performers, we are left with the understanding that the founders, and their heirs, had successfully pivoted in the face of every threat to the survival of the company for the next generation.

It’s no coincidence that “The Lehman Trilogy” is indeed the next big thing to strike a chord with audiences in Chicago. The show has already been extended through November 26.

PHOTO|Liz Lauren

TIMELINE THEATRE COMPANY
BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
present
THE LEHMAN TRILOGY
NOW EXTENDED
through November 26, 2023

BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE
at Watertower Place

TICKETS
WEBSITE

For more reviews, visit: Theatre In Chicago

ARCHIVE

PicksInSix® is a registered trademark of Roxbury Road Creative, LLC