Gratulerer med dagen!
By Staff Reports
Published: 3/20/2009 3:43 AM
Last Modified: 3/20/2009 3:43 AM
Happy Birthday, Henrik Ibsen.
The great Norwegian playwright is having a birthday. He was born in Skien, Norway, on March 20, 181 years ago. Ibsen, known as the "father of modern drama" is regarded as one of the most important playwrights of all time.
His notable works include "Peer Gynt," "A Doll's House," "Ghosts," and "The Wild Duck." Ibsen's writing challenged the prevailing views of Victorian morality. He attacked both conservative mores and the liberalism of his day with equal gusto.
My favorite Ibsen play is "An Enemy of the People." The protagonist in the play is a doctor. The play takes place in a vacation town known for its public bath which is renowned for its healing properties.
When the doctor discovers the water that serves the bath has become contaminated, he alerts the authorities, thinking they will thank him for saving the town from infecting innocent visitors to the city with waterborne disease. The doctor is surprised when he is attacked by the locals and declared an "enemy of the people."
The play ends with the doctor's complete ostracism and the audience's knowledge that a greater tragedy is in store for the town due to the community's unwillingness to face reality.
I was thinking if someone wanted to perform Ibsen in the Park this summer, maybe we could get Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson to play the doctor. I have written a couple state representatives about playing the townspeople.
Mike Dumford, Stigler
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectid=62&articleid=20090320_7_A14_spanc06243
