Lucy Prebble has transformed one of the most infamous scandals in financial history into a theatrical epic — “Enron.” Director Cheryl Faraone and the Middlebury College Department of Theatre and Dance are bringing this black comedy to the stage at the Wright Memorial Theater at the end of next week.
“Enron” is a play about the spectacular 2001 implosion of the American energy giant. As often happens with buccaneering entrepreneurs, the company and the people who ran it got a case of hubris. They figured if Enron could trade energy, it could trade anything, anywhere, in the new virtual marketplace. The misdeeds of Enron resonate today; as The Guardian’s review had it: The triumph of the evening is that it renders Enron’s rise and fall in exciting theatrical terms, and leaves us with the feeling that, as the bonus culture thrives while others lose their jobs, the lessons of this vast collapse have still to be learned. The story of Enron is all too familiar.”
Faraone is directing a company of 16 Middlebury College students; professional actor Peter B. Schmitz plays the infamous Ken Lay and is also serving as the movement director. This production features original music specially composed for the show by Andy Mitton.
“This is an amazing, epic piece of work, and one of which we’re especially proud,” Farone said. “The production … has benefitted strongly from advice and insider info from a former VP from the company itself!”
Performances are scheduled for Thursday, May 3, and Friday, May 4, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m. Tickets: $15/$12/$6.