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Matt Smith's An Enemy Of The People is panned as critics praise actor's 'passable performance' but condemn his 'clumsy and conservative' revival of Ibsen's classic play: 'A fine supporting cast can't stop it falling apart'

The actor takes a starring role in An Enemy Of The People, Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen's 1882 critique of societal hypocrisy, as seen through the eyes of local doctor Thomas Stockmann.

While Smith's edgy take on Stockmann as a jeans wearing, David Bowie loving revolutionary wins critical praise, his efforts have been undermined by consistently weak reviews of Ostermeier's present day reimagining of Ibsen's 19th century classic. However Clive Davis of The Times was unimpressed, adding: 'The sad truth is that Thomas Ostermeier’s sophomoric attempt to drag the Norwegian playwright into the 21st century is so clumsy it might almost be part of some sinister conservative plot to kill off left-wing theatre once and for all. However The Guardian's Arifa Akbar offered a more enthusiastic response in a four star review, writing: 'Rock'n'roll reimagining of Ibsen's timeless corruption drama brings the audience into direct Question Time-style dialogue with Smith's idealist revolutionary.

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