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Pleasance Dome – KingDome
All things money are playfully illustrated in a fast-moving comedy about a man's quest for the ever so elusive financial stability.Summary
Rating
Excellent
Money – the king and killer of our society – is put under the spotlight in this fast-moving work by internationally acclaimed French author David Lescot. The main character is the playwright’s stage alter-ego Me, played delightfully by Zach Lusk. He moves very comfortably within the role, effectively holding the show together. This biographical account from childhood to retirement is supported by Matthew Brown and Hannah Mitchell, who boost the performance with a pretty impressive selection of over forty different characters. Their often caricatural impressions are served with a deft hand and the pair also contribute to the piece with vocal sound effects.
As a child, Me appears already quite dollar-conscious, understanding the importance of saving and with a natural penchant for parsimony. Despite his dad being a positive example of financial wisdom, his mother is very much at the opposite extreme of the spectrum and, as the narration progresses, Me regrettably picks up more of her mindset. Throughout his life, money becomes not only a means to purchase goods, but also a way to establish relationships and hold on to girlfriends who are happy to let him pay for everything. Poorly remunerated teaching assignments and the unplanned arrival of a child are the last nail in the coffin of monetary stability.
All of the common factors that affect a person’s financial status emerge in this very relatable work. Fast-forwarding through the protagonist’s life, we are given compelling insights peppered with familiar dynamics. Me’s endless debt, for instance, is only made worse by the most popular scams to have come up in the last few decades – from the pyramid scheme (here called the airplane) to the typical street seller pushing counterfeit goods. Every time Me hits rock bottom, we are teased with the suggestion that he might have finally learned from his mistakes, but he’s meant to reflect the worst of us all and, as such, he’s on a free fall.
A cheerful tone keeps this piece of social critique fresh and entertaining. With its cursory look over the implications of financial destitution, it might not change the world but, who knows, perhaps will inspire the squanderers amongst us to keep the purse strings a bit tighter.
Written by: David Lescot
Translated by: Christopher Campbell
Dough plays at EdFringe 2023 until 28 August, 1:30pm at Pleasance Dome. Further information and bookings here.
