by Amy Dalness
Daily Lobo
Joan Holden's "Nickel and Dimed" is successful nonpartisan theater - a breath of fresh air in these politically charged times.
Director Eugene Douglas said he and the faculty wanted to find something political but not polarizing that could bring people together during this election year.
"This couldn't be a more relevant play to our times," Douglas said.
The show, which is playing in Rodey Theatre, was adapted by Holden from the New York Times best-selling book Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich.
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Ehrenreich's book is an account of her undercover journalistic work about American's working class, which is at or just-above the poverty level, and her struggle to make ends meet.
Holden's staged version took a cast of six and brings Ehrenreich's experiences back to life.
Douglas said the stage is set in two worlds. One is the idealized world - a world seen on television that represents the stereotype for the rich. The other world is crowded, messy and full of strife, representing the real work-a-day world.
"We have a woman who starts to bridge the gap of the two worlds by going undercover," Douglas said. "She goes through a massive change."
In the spirit of what Ehrenreich describes as "old-fashioned journalism" she heads off with a set of rules, a car and the desire to succeed in the low-income workforce. She works a range of jobs from Wal-Mart sales associate to the nutrition supervisor at a nursing home in the novel, making no more than $7 a hour.
In the three cities she visits, Ehrenreich said it was nearly impossible to find decent, affordable housing. She was even forced to quit job hunting in one city, because she couldn't find an affordable apartment and ended up losing money.
Ehrenreich's account of her experience is full of humor and detail. The book is the stunning reaction of a women going from a well-paying writing career to a low-wage way of life.
Ehrenreich's book is not politically motivated. Nowhere does she mention or blame any politician or political party. Nor does she call on her readers to blame anyone. She simply reports her experience and lets the ideas take their course.
Douglas said the lack of political finger pointing appealed to him.
"It entertains people first, and then hopefully people think, 'Gee, OK. That's really going on,'" Douglas said.
COMING ATTRACTION
Nickel and Dimed
Directed by Eugene Douglas
Thursday through Saturday 7.30 p.m.
Rodey Theatre
$12 general - $8 faculty staff and seniors -$6 students
