Images: 
Total Rating: 
***1/2
Opened: 
August 3, 2018
Ended: 
August 19, 2018
Country: 
USA
State: 
Florida
City: 
Sarasota
Company/Producers: 
Florida Studio Theater
Theater Type: 
Regional
Theater: 
Florida Studio Theater - Gompertz
Theater Address: 
First Street & Cocoanut Avenue
Phone: 
941-366-9000
Website: 
floridastudiotheatre.org
Running Time: 
2 hrs
Genre: 
Drama
Author: 
Jerry Sterner
Director: 
Jason Cannon
Review: 

For a period piece, Other People’s Money is almost as current in its dealings with business practices as it was in the play’s era, the late 1980’s. Though a now rare Problem Play, it hasn’t gone out of fashion with its way of dealing with a major issue. It benefits from both author Jerry Sterner’s dynamic dialectic and forceful direction by Jason Cannon.

The Problem: a traditional small Rhode Island factory, vital to its workers’ and town’s life, is being targeted by a Wall Street mogul, Lawrence Garfinkle. Played right-on by Sam Mossler, he’s known as Larry the Liquidator and swigs stock like he downs Dunkin’ Doughnuts—greedily. He’s the guy one loves to hate but so alive that one hates liking him too.

Despite his honesty and care for his plant, employees, and the area, owner Andrew Jorgenson is as unbending and resistant in relation to change as he is to staying on principle. Unfortunately, Colin Lane lacks the strength—even in a powerful address to stockholders—to carry most of the weight of Jorgenson’s problem and mainly shows the character’s stubborn pride to his detriment as a hero.

If Garfinkle doesn’t make an easy hit, it’s because as protagonist Sterner melds Jorgenson with his competent, loving secretary Bea Sullivan (notable Perri Gaffney). She’s capable of swaying a villain but, in this case, gets most of her moxie from also involving her daughter Kate (attractive, super-smart Nehassaiu deGannes). A lawyer, Kate knows about ways to get the best of businesses-without-industry in Wall Street dealings.

There’s lots of talk about economics that can be played around with by a Wall Street megalomaniac like Garfinkle and an adversary with an ego like Kate Sullivan, but what’s being played with in the background by a host of lawyers probably makes an added impression. So does the part played in his factory company’s future by its young manager (clever Joe Ditmyer, hedging bets).

Two love stories and a stockholders’ meeting that’s really a trial involve the audience. Sterner’s script is nicely theatrical, with asides, narration, debate, direct address to and involvement of the audience. Comedy is plentiful and for the most part serious, with the exception of a farcical presentation of doughnuts on a sort of ferris wheel.

The simple set consists mainly of two offices, each on opposite sides of the stage, that show the difference between tradition and modernity. The background is cash-green. There’s an easy flow between scenes, helped by lighting and sound designs.

Cast: 
Sam Mossler, Colin Lane, Niehassaiu deGannes, Perri Gaffney, Joe Ditmyer
Technical: 
Set: Isabel & Moriah Curley-Clay; Costumes: Susan Angermann; Lighting: Micheal Foster; Sound: Thom Korp; Stage Mgr.: Roy Johns
Miscellaneous: 
This play last appeared locally done by Asolo Rep in Sarasota on the mainstage through March, 1991. It’s been said that Garfinkle was originally meant by Sterner to be used as an anti-Semitic character.
Critic: 
Marie J. Kilker
Date Reviewed: 
August 2018