Review: HIEROGLYPHICS CURRENCY at Daydream Theatre Company
This riotous production runs through May 9th
Nowadays when you tune in to watch the news or read the latest headline in your social media feed, it’s difficult to differentiate between fact and fiction. Furthermore, there is no middle ground, and everything is described as a superlative—like the “least” effective or the “most” offensive.
With his new play, ‘Hieroglyphics Currency: Tips for Surviving the Economic Apocalypse,’ writer and director Leonard Schwartz brazenly embraces the superlative and gives new meaning to the word satire by poking fun at politics, capitalism, science, and health care—to name just a few of the topics that (depending on your viewpoint) help or hinder American society. Schwartz presents extreme examples of behavior, and while there’s plenty to laugh at, some of these representations are disturbingly not too far from reality.
At the center of this arguably insane—albeit eerily familiar—universe is Ray (Padriag Mahoney), your Average Joe who learns he may or may not have suffered a heart attack. Thinking he’s been given a second chance at life, Ray consults with an AI-generated hologram of Amelia Earhart (Christina Myers Mills) to invent a new form of currency. His idea takes off and soon thereafter Ray achieves immeasurable wealth, which garners the attention of heavy political influencers.
Meanwhile, Ray begins a romantic relationship with a former classmate, Shira (Liz Merritt), who desperately wants to invest in his enterprise. Ray soon learns that Shira is harboring a secret, which forces him to take a second look at his life and the demented world he was instrumental in creating.
In case the audience isn’t already aware, Schwartz reminds them that prices are out of control, only the rich get ahead, health care is a privilege (not a right), and those in charge haven’t got a clue. Along the way, he introduces narcissistic politicians, inept physicians, and rampant conspiracy theorists. The result is absurdly hilarious, inarguably unsettling, and overall, frighteningly sobering.
Mahoney shines as Ray, showcasing the perfect blend of charm, sensitivity, and tomfoolery. Although his actions aren’t always admirable, the actor’s upstanding portrayal makes it impossible to dislike him. Mills gives heart and humanity to a figment of Ray’s imagination with her exceptional performance as Amelia Earhart, and Merritt’s thoughtful, composed Shira provides a much-needed, shining beacon of hope.
Other noteworthy performances include Fred, a candidate for POTUS modeled after you-know-who, played remarkably (and grotesquely) by Daniel Martin, and Lionel Lafleur, who steals the show with his equally amusing and alarming portrayal of Fred’s frenzied, canine-like running mate. As much as I appreciated and understood their characters, the campaign rally scene goes on a tad bit too long, and Martin’s appearance actually made me queasy—which I suppose was the entirely the point.
However ludicrous, ‘Hieroglyphics Currency’ is entertaining yet odd, playful but informative. Simply put, it’s something you’ll think about and try to make sense of for days after you leave the theater.
Daydream Theatre Company’s production of ‘Hieroglyphics Currency’ runs through May 9th at Bell Street Chapel, located at 5 Bell Street in Providence. Click here for tickets and here for more information.
Photo by Derek Laurendeau
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