WBFO NEWS FEATURE ARTICLE 5/7/08
Subversive Theatre Tackles Social Change with
Nickel and Dimed
By
Joyce Kryszak
In her shocking book about life as a low income worker, Barbara Ehrenreich
told what it was like to be Nickel and Dimed in America.
Although riveting, her undercover experiment living as a member of the working
poor was far from a fun read. The play adaptation doesn't offer much
entertainment either.
But the revealing and hard hitting story was exactly the subject matter
that Buffalo's Subversive Theatre strives to bring to its audiences. Their
rather discomforting production of "Nickel and Dimed" wraps
up this week.
If you are looking for a relaxing night out and a little diversion you
won't find it with Subversive's production of "Nickel and Dimed."
The bedlam in the kitchen of a "Kenny's" restaurant is an
opening scene of the play. But, sorry, it doesn't get much lighter than
this over the next two hours. The re-enactments of Ehreneich's
experiences working one lousy, low wage job after another are disquieting and
all too realistic.
That's o.k. with Subversive Theatre founder Kurt Schneiderman. As the
playbill says, the theatre "unapologetically" presents Nickel
and Dimed. Like Ehrenreich, Schneiderman said he is interested in
producing work about - and for - those who are often overlooked.
To make sure, the price of admission for this show is pay what you can.
Anything else would, quite frankly, smack of hypocrisy. This is a play
that makes it only too clear how tough it is to get by in America on a minimum
wage.
Our real life central character, Barbara, titters on homelessness and
visits food pantries, as she struggles to make ends meet. Ehrenreich waited
tables, washed toilets, scrubbed floors, fed senile patients in a nursing
home, and racked up long hours, some of them off the clock, at a familiar
sounding discount chain, "MallMart."
The play and talented cast do offer moments of nervous laughter. But
this is not just another job for these actors. Lead actress, Moira
Keenan said she has worked most of these and plenty of other low wage
jobs. Even now, as a 40-something substitute teacher and actor, Keenan
said middle class is elusive. "There just aren't enough hours in
the day," said Keenan.
That reality was echoed by most of the cast. Justin Fiordaliso plays
George, an immigrant struggling with the language and corrupt
management. But Fiordaliso said he has experienced underhanded
management in real life when he worked at an unnamed big box discount chain.
But there is another side to the story. Although clearly the villain
in this play, corporate America is, of course, not entirely to blame.
Exploring those and the other issues is the idea behind the theatre's
post-play talks. The self-named "subversations"
following Saturday night performances give the audience a chance to connect
with the actors and the ideas presented.
One recent Saturday brought construction supervisor Vincent Kuntz to the
discussion. Kuntz said he tells his workers, who make good union wages
yet shop for bargains at Walmart, that blaming corporate America is shedding
their own responsibility.
Invited to lead one of the conversations was Micaela Shapiro Shellaby, with
the Coalition for Economic Justice in Buffalo. She talked about how the
Coalition fought for and won a living wage for city workers.
But she said it is really up to local leaders to make policy that will help
lift up the working poor.
Generating these kinds of conversations and airing ideas about how to truly
effect change is what American Protest Theatre is all about. Subversive
Theatre's director said that is a tradition they are proud to promote.
And Schneiderman said standing room only crowds, such as those turning out
each night to see the grim play, "Nickel and Dimed," are
vindication of what the theatre is trying to accomplish.
Subversive Theatre's production of "Nickel and Dimed"
continues Thursday through Sunday at the Alt Theatre on Great Arrow Avenue.
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