I haven't got a flat yet but I've got a ticket to a play.

Well thankfully the title of this blog post is no longer true - I found a flat Thursday. Whew.

But it was a joke I was telling people right until I landed a flat. "Hey I haven't found a flat yet, but I'm seeing a play!" Priorities.

My dearest Matt McCray, AD of my beloved Son of Semele Ensemble (SOSE) told me about this absolutely amazing play he and his father had seen in London back in June. Trusting him I decided to buy a ticket for my first Friday in London. Granted, this was before I even knew if my visa would be approved and mailed in time for my flight. (Thankfully I got my visa last Friday. My plane left Monday. Everything seems to be falling into place at the last minute - kinda like in theatre. Speaking of which...)

So the play is called Money by the ensemble company Shunt. Based on the novel L’Argent by Émile Zola, Money takes the audience (literally) into a three-story tall financial machine. The set is quite the beast. The instant I stepped into the warehouse and saw the monstrosity in the center, I knew I was going to be in for quite the treat.

Sipping on my Magner's cider and sitting alone, I took my solitude as an opportunity to observe those around me, the machine and it's inhabitants. Everything was in a harmonious balance as the cacophonous sounds blared, a guard of the machine handed out balloons, and audience members shuffled in. If one isn't instantly amazed by this elaborate setting and atmosphere, they sure will be once inside the machine. Pure theatrical magic and stunning ingenuity. I've never before seen anything like it.

What seems entirely fragmented becomes painfully clear and socially relevant as the money machine builds up speed and then plummets. Leaving the audience in silence. I think I had a smile on my face the entire time. Funny, absurd, relevant, biting and creative - all things that in my opinion make up great theatre.

After the show I awkwardly stood around scrounging up the courage to introduce myself to any member of the company in hopes to find out more about the production and the company. Finally I did. I first spoke with Nigel who plays the creator of the machine, the "man on the future." He told me that they had been working on the piece for quite some time and that everyone in the company contributed to it's creation. I told him I was envious of their space and the unbelievable set. "How did you get your funding for all this?" I ask. Well, Shunt originally was in the Shunt arches underneath London Bridge. The space has been converted into a lounge/bar area and basically they were able to fund this project by all the alcohol sold. (Are you paying attention my LA theatre peeps?)

Then I spoke with Gemma who plays the man's girlfriend and helps to bring the machine into fruition. She told me that Shunt has been around for about 13 years and has grown over time. Money has been playing for a year now and she can't believe it's been running for that long. They've recently extended it again for two more weeks. I ask her when they began devising this piece. "It was before the financial crisis, it's been that long," she tells me. How serendipitous! She agrees saying that their last project was about Guy Fawkes who is infamous in Britain for his failed attempt at blowing up parliament in 1605. Back then you could rent a room in the basement of the building, which is where the attempt happened. It was one of those securities things that no one really thought about. After they had opened the show, 9/11 happened, back when no one thought terrorists would hijack a plane and crash it into a tower.

Louise, the dramaturg on Money laughs at the coincidences of their past two plays with major global events. "Maybe we should make our next show a happy one."

After awhile I asked Louise and Gemma if they needed volunteers. And like all struggling theatre companies - they jumped on my inquiry. Haha, glad to see there's the same spirit here as there is in the LA theatre community. I haven't even been here a week and already I'm whoring myself out for theatre.

Considering this is my first show of my year in London, I sure have started off with a bang!

Here's a link to a cool promo video: http://vimeo.com/12972196