This past week, our High School theatre students brought Henrik Ibsen’s An Enemy of the People to life in a bold and thought-provoking production. Tackling the complexities of truth, power, and public opinion, the cast and crew delivered a performance that showcased their talent, dedication, and deep engagement with the text.
Under the direction of Mrs. Danielle Donovan, students embraced the challenge of Realism, navigating the weighty themes and intricate character work with remarkable depth. The production invited the audience to reflect on pressing questions: What happens when integrity comes at a cost? How does society respond to uncomfortable truths? In a powerful moment, audience members even had the chance to lend their voices to the debate, reinforcing the play’s enduring relevance.
Bringing this production to life was no small feat. A dedicated team of students and staff crafted every aspect—from the purpose-built set to the costumes, lighting, props, and sound. Special thanks go to Dr. Rathwell, Dr. Stevenson, and Mme Pava for their invaluable support and the maintenance, custodial, and administrative teams’ contributions behind the scenes.
The success of An Enemy of the People is a testament to our theatre students’ passion and hard work. Their commitment to this challenging piece has set a high bar, and as Mrs. Donovan promised, they can look forward to something lighter next year as a well-earned reward!
Congratulations to the entire cast and crew on a truly outstanding production!
"The one moment that stands out for me in Enemy of the People was the town hall meeting scene. In this scene, my character, Hovstad, is so passionate and invested in his beliefs that it made me feel just as fired up. Hovstad truly believes in what he’s saying, and his energy and determination helped me get fully involved in the scene. It wasn’t just about saying my lines—it felt like I was fighting for something important, just like Hovstad. The moment's intensity was so powerful, making me connect with the character.
In the end, Enemy of the People wasn’t just about the acting; it was about learning to work with others, think critically, and feel deeply about the issues the play raised. It’s an experience I’ll carry with me for a long time!"
- Darsh A. Grade 9
"I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. I made memorable friendships and strengthened the ones I already had. Every cast and crew member was extremely kind and respectful, and I felt at home while rehearsing. The cast of this show was, in every sense of the word, a second family to me.
I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to meet this fantastic cast of characters (the actors, not the characters they are playing). Getting the character was challenging, and I often found myself still in character for a while after exiting the stage, so going in and out of Aslaksen was a bit of a struggle. Honestly, I am most proud of memorizing my lines. I was astounded that I had them all memorized in time, as I did not feel I would ever have them memorized.
Over this entire production, I developed a few skills as I had never played a serious character before, so transitioning from my normal outwards and flamboyant personality into a calm, collected, calculating character was a skill I had to learn and nurture and was a huge skill I had to learn. Unexpected occurrences on stage are not out of the ordinary and are expected. Improvisation is one of my strong suits and something I never have to worry about. I will be back next year. I will see all of you at next year's musical, and you can count on that; believe me, it will not disappoint."
- Nathan P. Grade 10