Jewel Box stages ‘Other People’s Money’ on tax day

The Jewel Box Theater is shining its lights on the evolution of the business world underneath a bit of sexual tension and the power struggle of corporate America, circa 1980s. The old school run, built-from-the-ground-up New England Wire and Cable Company is under corporate siege by a Wall Street savvy, greed driven broker Lawrence Garfinkle — played by Dave Siskin.

The Jewel Box Theater is shining its lights on the evolution of the business world underneath a bit of sexual tension and the power struggle of corporate America, circa 1980s.

The old school run, built-from-the-ground-up New England Wire and Cable Company is under corporate siege by a Wall Street savvy, greed driven broker Lawrence Garfinkle — played by Dave Siskin.

Of course, Wire and Cable owner Andrew Joregenson (Steve Ford) won’t go down without a fight, but he’s extremely reluctant to evolve his mind-set in order to avoid the demise of his business in this tragic comedy.

He’s forced to seek out high-powered executive lawyer to battle Garfinkle in the courtroom.

Enter the sassy and poignant Wall Street attorney Kate Sullivan — played by Hannah Vitale. She’s also the daughter of Jorgenson’s assistant and best friend — Bea Sullivan (Vicki Dorsey). Bea left Kate’s father over an affair with Jorgenson back when he’d just become president of the Wire and Cable … cringe for Kate.

“There’s this bad blood brewing between Kate, her mom and Jorgenson,” director Ally Roberts said. “But she’s the only one they will trust.”

That sets the stage for a twisted up saga of the fight for the company.

“Businessmen are not good storytellers,” William Coles, played by Bruce Hawkins opens the play with a soliloquy. “Have you ever read an annual report? We’re not very good storytellers, which is a shame because there’s a story that needs to be told.”

In this story, Kate finds herself straddling both sides … almost literally in Garfinkle’s case. The powerful lawyer inside her wants to take him out and chalk it up on her resume, but while working for Jorgenson, her heart winds up in the hands of the enemy.

Sounds a little wicked, but this story’s not relegated to a happy ending.

“It’s a realistic ending, it’s not an old-fashioned Hollywood, good guy wins, bad guy goes down ending,” Roberts said. “(It’s saying) take a look at where we are and ask yourself do you want to continue on this path?”

The Jewel Box set has representations of both ends of the corporate trail of capitalist America. On stage left there’s a fancy Wall Street office with a posh desk, while stage right reflects a New England style office with its company smoke stacks billowing and silhouetted in the window.

“The center will be a neutral space where one can bleed into the other as needed,” Roberts said.

The cast of veterans memorized its lines at an incredible rate, she said. That’s allowing for increased rehearsal of the “teleport” style staging between Wall Street and Industrial Avenue.

The show debuts March 30 and will run Fridays and Saturdays through April 28, with the only matinee of the series at 2 p.m. April 15.

“It’s kind of ironic that our only matinee lands on tax day,” Roberts said.

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