Enemy of the People - Mainstage Play

Enemy of the People was written by Henrik Ibsen and adapted in the 1950s by Arthur Miller. It is a play that tells the story of a man following his conscience and doing what he feels is morally right, despite the negative impact on his reputation and his family's security.

This play was this year's "mainstage" production. A full length play. C auditioned for an acting part but wasn't chosen. He worked behind the scenes with costumes, sets, and lighting. During the show he helped move furniture between acts.

The play is set in Norway in the late 1880s. The main character is a doctor and scientist who finds out that small town's tourist attraction, the springs, are poisonous.

Instead of this news being welcomed by the press and general public he becomes a pariah. He is declared an enemy of the people. He is fired from his job, his adult daughter who is a teacher is also fired, his family is evicted from their home and rocks are thrown through their windows. He has the opportunity to leave for America on a ship but he decides to stay in his town despite the situation.

There were many powerful lines. "Public opinion is an extremely mutable thing." "The majority has might, unfortunately - but it hasn't right!" You see, the point is that the strongest man in the world is he who stands most alone."

J and I attended the last performance of the show on Saturday afternoon. I was very impressed with the acting and the play itself. Very relevant for our current political situation. 

Here is C with his close friends who were also helping behind the scenes.

Frankly, I'm glad that the show is over now. C has started coming home at a more reasonable time in the evenings!

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Padilla Bay

On Friday we had a very short window of time to do a day trip with A. J had physical therapy for his shoulder in the morning and A had a previously scheduled lunch with our senior pastor. That gave us a grand total of 2 1/2 hours!

I don't have many photos to accompany this. I thought I'd blog to remember this and also if one of my friends wants an idea for a short road trip.

I picked Padilla Bay because it is an interesting place that I'd been to once before. I went as a chaperone for a field trip with A and his classmates when he was a high school freshman. J chaperoned a field trip with C when he was in middle school.

Padilla Bay is straight east of Anacortes and north of Mt. Vernon. It is an estuary where the salt water meets the fresh water.

We saw lots of snow geese along the way as well as some donkeys in some fields. I'm wondering why people would keep donkeys?

The little town of Bay View (which you pass through on the way to the interpretative center) seems charming

We had a little trouble finding where to park to get to the shore. It was over 4 years since I'd been there.

There is an interpretive center where we were able to get some guidance. 

We walked short distance from the interpretative center, went through a tunnel and then took a spiral staircase down to the shore.

We spent some time at the shore. 

It was littered with this shore life.

I didn't know what it was so when I got home I consulted my Mac's Field guide to northwest coastal invertebrates. Threaded Horn is the name of it. Were they dead or alive? We weren't sure.

We drove to Padilla State Park beach. A Discover Pass required to park here. We were running out of time at this point so we headed back home.

Apparently there is a 4 mile shoreline walk which I'd like to do the next time we come.

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