"Serious Money" at Atlantic Stage 2
“Serious Money”
Atlantic Stage 2
Reviewed on Thursday July 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Caryl Churchill’s “Serious Money,” currently playing as part of the PTP/NYC 2012 Season at Atlantic Stage 2, received enormous acclaim after its original 1987 opening. Its felicitous appearance just after the 1987 market crash catapulted the play into immediate appeal and relevance. However, though the Seven Deadly Sins continue to flourish, the specific content of “Serious Money” somewhat reduces its original power to engage.
Despite global financial disaster, the money-changers still believe that greed is good. More than a sufficient number of entrepreneurs agree with Jacinta Condor (brilliantly played by Jeanne LaSala Taylor) that helping out the poor and needy is not as important as accumulating wealth. Obviously sex, drugs, and-rock-and roll continue to fuel the fires of the 1% not involved in Occupy Wall Street. Governments still eradicate those who dare not to submit to totalitarian technique just as the government “took out” Jake Todd (Mat Nakitare). It seems most of humanity would prefer to be “on the right side of exploitation.” But this critic wishes PTP/NYC had chosen a product that might have addressed the Monster more aggressively. It is understood that Churchill chooses to “refrain from moral proscription and sentimentality.” However, perhaps it is time to make some commitment, some stand against the myriad of Monsters that have the “unquenchable thirst for more power.” Agreed, the audience member can make that decision after experiencing “Serious Money.” It might be more powerful if that decision was made by the actors on the stage. Sometimes it is all right to take a stand in the creative process. In other words, Churchill’s wish to remain “on the fence” might no longer be workable. This critic understands the rhetorical importance of ambiguity. The issue is the viability of maintaining an ambiguous stance in the face of global financial despair.
That said, PTP/NYC’s extraordinarily committed 2012 cast does all it can to bring “Serious Money” to life. There is not a moment when the Atlantic Stage 2 is not pulsing with energy. Cheryl Faraone’s tight direction allows the large cast to move on, off, and about the stage with considerable grace and ease. Alicia Evancho’s choreography is more than practical: it is fun and pleasant to watch. Some cast members deliver the poetry of the work better than others with Alex Draper (playing Billy Corman) perhaps understanding how best to accomplish the task. Overall, PTP/NYC’s “Serious Money” succeeds in engaging its audience in the consideration of relevant and challenging matters. It is well worth seeing before it closes on July 29th.
SERIOUS MONEY
The cast includes David Barlow, Megan Byrne, Alex Draper, James O. Dunn, Tara Giordano, Brent Langdon, Jeanne LaSala Taylor, Mathew Nakitare, Aubrey Dube, Gillian Durkee, Alicia Evancho, Charles Giardina, Meghan Leathers, Molly O’Keefe, Haley Robinson and Lucy Van Atta.
The creative team includes Carol Christensen (Musical Direction), Alicia Evancho (Choreography), Hallie Zieselman (Set Design), Mark Evancho (Lighting Design), Allison Rimmer and Aubrey Dube (Sound Design) and Jule Emerson with Jordan Jones (Costume Design). Cheryl Faraone directs.
Serious Money runs through July 29. Remaining performances take place on Sat 7/14 at 2:30pm, Sun 7/15 at 2:30pm, Fri 7/20 at 7:30pm, Sat 7/21 at 2:30pm, Sun 7/22 at 7:30pm, Tue 7/24 at 7:30pm, Wed 7/25 at 7:30pm, Sat 7/28 at 7:30pm, Sun 7/29 at 2:30pm. Running time for Serious Money is 2 hours and 20 minutes including one intermission.
All performances are at Atlantic Stage 2, 330 West 16th Street in New York, New York. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students/seniors and can be purchased online at http://www.TicketCentral.com or by calling 212-279-4200. For more information visit http://PTPNYC.org.
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 | Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Friday, July 13, 2012 |
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