by Danielle Filas
Available Light Theatre’s Dirty Math shoulders its two greatest burdens admirably: to educate and to entertain. The multimedia production helps even the most math and finance-phobic grasp the basics of the disturbingly long history of global greed that has marched the current economy straight into the proverbial toilet. Given the dry and dour subject matter, director Matt Slaybaugh also does a surprisingly good job of keeping the audience engaged (and often laughing) for the entire 90 minute period. Slaybaugh’s direction (seemingly influenced by the physical Viewpoints school of stage movement) inspires his three actors to create an energy-packed and positively aerobic performance as they bend over backward to make sub-prime mortgages and bonds trading palatable to a bewildered audience.
Acacia Duncan, Jordan Fehr, and Ian Short, all AVLT company members, work at a breakneck pace using dance, rap, slapstick comedy, vaudevillian conventions, and a few welcome contemplative moments to tell the story. Duncan and Short meet this challenge especially well, powering through the onstage acrobatics without missing a beat and still managing to slow down enough to connect with the audience at key moments- such as the during the reading of actual letters written by victims of both the Great Depression and the current economic crisis. Although Fehr hits these more emotional notes well and has a few golden comedic moments (his Rambo-esque 80s scene alone might be worth the price of admission), he develops a few cracks in the veneer as the play progresses, sometimes falling flat on his timing or seeming to struggle for lines. The trio, however, shows itself to be incredibly ambitious, pulling from extensive research to expertly set up and knock down a line of economic dominoes starting in 1500 AD and rolling to present day.
This same ambition causes Dirty Math to overreach a bit, losing its tight focus at times. (For instance, how exactly does the gay marriage relate to do the financial crisis?) And while Duncan, Fehr, and Short’s thought-provoking performance defines problems, probes history, points fingers, and raises important questions, their resolution glosses over answers to those questions, making only a vague admonishment to, “Do the right thing.” This lack of a clearly defined answer stands in stark contrast to the rest of the performance’s clear and practical information
Of course, to be fair, there really are no simple answers to this complex situation. As Duncan eloquently describes it, Americans tend to live separate lives as citizens and consumers. While as citizens, we care about the environment, as consumers we just can’t seem to stop driving earth-raping SUVs. The audience aches for instruction on how to rectify these two personalities. Perhaps this gutsy company can tackle that in another show.
No matter. Dirty Math should be required viewing for citizens and consumers alike so that all can approach the current state of the economy armed with valuable knowledge, a sense of perspective, and eyes wide open.
Dirty Math runs through April 11. Tickets are “pay what you can.”
Thursday, April 9 8pm w/ TALKBACK
Friday, April 10 12pm w/ LUNCH more info
Friday, April 10 8pm w/ TALKBACK
Saturday, April 11 8pm w/ TALKBACK
All performances: Studio 2 Theatre @ the Riffe..
77 South High Street
CLICK HERE for a map and to get directions.
Call 614-558-7408 for more info or to make reservations.
* Danielle Filas serves as a contributing editor to Theatre Vault. She recently moved from Chicago and holds degrees from Northwestern University and Knox College. You can visit her personal blog by clicking here.