The 1989 play later remade into a film starring Danny DeVito as the supposedly evil corporate raider gobbling up companies like candy is as relevant today as when it was first produced as noted by director Eric Walby, "With the stock market at all time highs, yet with personal income having remained flat for nearly 20 years, the theme of stockholder value trumping workers' rights is as timely today as it was in the 80s."
Lawrence "Larry the Liquidator" Garfield is a doughnut loving mergers and acquisitions guru who has become filthy rich buying up companies and selling them off. He relishes the brinksmanship of the hostile takeover seeing himself as an agent of change and that a company's only obligation is to their stockholders. He next sets his site on the family run New England Wire & Cable. The struggling company is debt free but falling behind the times and being supported by other areas of the company. Larry believes that technological advances have rendered the wire-and-cable business obsolete and should be put out of its misery.
The company is run by the kind hearted and folksy Andrew "Jorgy" Jorgenson who sees the position of running his family business as a solemn responsibility as they are the primary employer for the small town where they are based. Jorgy insists that no outsider can seize control his family's business as Garfield proceeds with his hostile takeover. In defense, Jorgy hires his stepdaughter Kate, a big-city lawyer and the normally single minded Garfield is immediately taken with Kate. Kate on the other hand finds Garfield repugnant and his business practices repulsive however, she also finds herself strangely attracted to his sense of excitement and passion for his "work". The play follows the chess game between Larry and Kate with the fate of her family's business and the financial future of the town in the balance. The conflict comes to a head at the company's stock meeting where the shareholders hear both sides make their case and decide the company's future.
With an apparently slimy character like Larry the audience can easily side against him however he is neither misguided nor "being mean" to the Jorgy and his company, "We may not agree with his goals, but he sees himself as doing what's "right". It's my goal to allow the audience to decide. We hope to give them enough ammunition for both positions to create conversations among the audience on their way home from the theater…All 5 characters are full, rich and as such they are neither completely good or completely bad. They are combinations of both, like all of us. There is no "right or wrong", "good or evil", it's all shades of gray. AND, we live in a world where one needs to adapt and adjust or die. , said Walby.
It's the shades of gray plotting with the show's apparent heroes, Jorgy and Kate that the show finds its richer footing. Jorgy, who despite his wholesome, small town every man persona has allowed his family's company to remain in the past, "Pining for how things used to be is a conversation to have over a few beers, not as a corporate strategy… his inability to bend dooms him. He is an oak in a hurricane, so his personal strength dooms him and his company," said. Walby when asked if Jorgy shares in the blame of his company's fate.
Also, Kate while despising Larry's tactics finds his confidence and prowess attractive and the nature of this relationship humanizes Larry, "[It's} what forces us to make Garfinkel into a complete character. If he was simply an evil curmudgeon, a Mr. Burns, the audience would never buy the relationship. And it's there. Kate is the one person who surprises Garfinkel, she's the one who's actions he can't predict, which fascinates him. And she is drawn to his intelligence, power and charisma. But on her terms," Walby added.
"[Other People's Money] is unique and interesting from a performance point of view…sadly, this isn't the case with too many plays", said Walby.
About Edison Valley Playhouse
The Historic Edison Valley Playhouse is a non-profit, all volunteer staffed, Community Theater that has been producing and presenting plays, musicals, and other performing arts events to our surrounding communities for over 49 years. Our theater was built in 1895 and is an Edison Historic Landmark. We are supported solely by ticket sales and donations from our supporters in the community. Please visit their website at www.evplayhouse.com or follow them on their Facebook group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/EdisonValleyPlayhouse/ for more information on the theater and upcoming events.
Edison Valley Playhouse
2196 Oak Tree Rd, Edison, NJ
October 24-November 8, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm
Tickets: $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students
To reserve tickets for pickup and payment on the night of the show, call the box office at 908-755-4654 and leave a message. You will receive a callback only if there is a problem with your reservation.
To reserve and pay for your tickets online visit http://edison-valley-playhouse-agent.ticketleap.com/opm/
Cast:
Charles Deitz Sr.
Vince Fay
Jennifer Jones
Matt Lafargue
Donne Petito
Crew:
Producer – Richard Monteiro
Stage Manager – Holly Lessing
Asst. Stage Manager – Joan Myers-Norton
Lighting Design – Elyse Halloran
Costume Design – Elizabeth Mahon
Set Design – Eric Walby & Emily Russoniello
