Sopranos star Michael Imperioli spoke out after video of him staying in character while confronting climate activists who disrupted a performance of the Broadway production of An Enemy of the People went viral.
The incident occurred during Thursday's preview performance at the Circle in the Square Theater, where at least three Extinction Rebellion activists staged a protest, shouting slogans such as "There's no Broadway on a dead planet!" as they were physically escorted out of the venue.
The protest echoed the premise of Henrik Ibsen's 1882 play, which follows a doctor who discovers contaminated drinking water in his town but faces opposition from local officials when he tries to expose the truth.
During the disruption, actors remained in character, with Imperioli and co-star Jeremy Strong reacting to the protesters as if the interruption were part of the play.
The video below shows the moment the show was disrupted.
Among those involved in removing the protesters was Imperioli himself, who took to social media afterward with a message of understanding, acknowledging the passion behind the protesters' actions.
He wrote:
"Tonight was wild…no hard feelings, Extinction Rebellion Crew. Michael is on your side, but Mayor Stockmann [the villainous character he plays] is not. Much love."
You can see his post below.
Many appreciated both Imperioli's message and his actions.
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Representatives for An Enemy of the People declined to provide a statement following the incident. However, Extinction Rebellion released a press statement explaining that their action was intended to peacefully protest against the use of fossil fuels and demand urgent action from governments and corporations to address climate change.
The organization demanded that "the government tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, halt biodiversity loss, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025."
An Enemy of the People opened at the Circle in the Square Theater on March 18, sparking discussion both on and off the stage about the urgency of addressing environmental issues.
The play has received excellent reviews from publications like Entertainment Weekly, Deadline, and The Guardian, which have praised the relevance of its subject matter.
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