Part dramatic lecture, part storytelling, It's the Economy, Stupid from writer-performer Joe Sellman-Leava is an unabashed yet self-aware piece of left-leaning socio-political theatre.
Fronted by Sellman-Leava, the production is fuelled by the rather depressing but true story of his parents' convenience store business slowly being crushed in the late 80s and early 90s by the supermarket behemoths that now dominate our towns and cities. And through the memory of learning the rules of the game of Monopoly as a child, he gives us a whistle-stop tour of modern British economic history and the effects it's had on millenials like himself (and myself too), and of course current and future generations.
Although it deals with a fairly staid subject matter in the ethics of financial dealings, it's delivered with humour and charisma, and just the right amount of vitriol to make the show eminently watchable. When you add to the mix Sellman-Leava's apparently reluctant co-star Ethan Howells in the role of stage manager, regulator (for when Joe's rants become a little too biased), and also occasional magician, it's a really entertaining piece as the chemistry between the two performers shines through.
The set is one that seems innocuous at first, with maybe 30 or so cardboard boxes arranged in some form of a plain wall, but gradually as Howells moves the pieces into various positions, you realise how cleverly crafted it all is. Some boxes are rotated to appear with caricatures of politicians while Sellman-Leava offers us a vocal impersonation, and at other times images are projected onto the boxes with impressive accuracy. It gives the piece another dimension as a visual spectacle to counter-balance what is effectively just a chap largely talking at us (in an engaging manner, I might add) for an hour or so.
It's a thoroughly impressive, impassioned piece of work which leaves us with a subtle call-to-arms, though it could certainly be a bit more defined and stronger. I see no reason, given the perspective the story is told from, that Sellman-Leava should feel the need to reign himself in.
Not sure where you can see It's the Economy, Stupid next, but perhaps it's worth keeping an eye on these brilliant performers on social media for an idea.
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