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Sub-primes by the bunch The Just Price of Flowers Birmingham Rep and Stan's Café A E Harris Building, Birmingham **** IF YOU'D never seen a tulip before, you'd
want one too, wouldn't you? The Just Price of
Flowers shouldn't really be funny because it tells the tale of
speculation and feverish tulipmania, which gripped 17th
century Netherlands. As the flower grew in popularity, vast sums of
money were changing hands because people wanted this colourful exotic
novelty so much. Nevertheless, this production, written and directed by
James Yarker, is full of humour while cleverly drawing parallels with
the recession in 2008. Appropriately for these austere times, the play
is presented in A E Harris' disused metal pressing factory. Intrigued, delighted and excited by the beauty of
their neighbour Van Eek's unusual flower, the Van Leasings are a couple
who spot a hot opportunity to make a guilder or two. Charlotte Gregory plays the wife who appears to
be somewhat baffled by compound interest rates yet negotiates with Van
Hire to borrow guilders for a portfolio of tulip bulbs. As he tends the
assets, their doubting servant resists all encouragement to join his
employers' feverish speculation in tulips.
Origami, accordion music and witty lyrics feature
in this light-hearted 70-minute performance, which is strikingly staged
in monochrome; the only splashes of colour are the paper tulips. The story leads the audience through futures
trading, credit ratings, sub-primes, credit default swaps, and short
selling, through the eyes of financiers and bankers who are hedging
everybody's bets. Bernadette Russell wonderfully portrays the
persuasive financier who almost loses everything, but ends up having
cake and eating it. Meanwhile, Gerard Bell's calm, unruffled performance
serves to remind us that financial markets depend on commodities – in
this case flowers which have yet to bloom. VanDriver retains his faith
in his pension fund and simply looks forward to peaceful retirement. The cast morph into choristers singing of
aspirations beyond basic human needs for water, food, shelter, family
and friends. Inevitably, the bubble bursts and Jill Dowse's narration
draws parallels with contemporary personal hardships, financial scandals
and economic downturn. Does anybody win? Bankers like Van Ish may have
added to their wealth, but Van Eek reminds us of the inherent beauty of
gardens. A delightfully entertaining, but cautionary tale
taught me more about complexities of economic downturn than I had
expected. The portrayal of bankers and ordinary people who get caught up
when the tulip bubble bursts is simultaneously amusing and
thought-provoking. Well worth a visit! To Laura Ginesi
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