In a perfect sign o' the times, Enron: The Musical is coming to Lambert Hall in Houston. The opening of the play today may touch a very sore nerve for many Houstonians, but the sheer psychological impact that the actual Enron debacle left on the American financial landscape seems like the perfect setting for a musical I guess. Maybe Tim Burton had something to do with it, eh? If so, the musical would have been called "The Nightmare Before Enron" or something.The musical will feature two acts with six local actors -- each playing up to 10 roles (including those Kenneth L. Lay, Jeffrey K. Skilling and Andrew S. Fastow). Enron's songs are show-tune parodies such as Thank Heaven for Off The Books Deals. Very nice. Like I said, opening this play in Houston may give comic relief to some, but to others who lost college funds, their life savings or even their homes, this play may bring some memories that were just starting to be packed away in the back of many minds.
The writer-director-producer of the play -- who sells janitorial supplies during his day job -- Mark Fraser, said "I did a lot of research because even though it's satire, I wanted it to be factually correct. [...] A lot of the stuff in the play people will think I made up because it's so ludicrous, but it's actually all true."
So, if you're in the mood to relive one of the nation's largest corporate scandal, be sure to stop in and catch Enron: The Musical this weekend in Lambert Hall, Houston. If you want to try and make a statement, though, pay your admission with Monopoly money if you have one of those board games lying around.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-01-2006 @ 9:38AM
Sambo said...
I can't beleive what I am reading here! After everything that families have gone through by losing everything because of these crooks, who ever thought of this should be put away!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The nerve and foresight someone had to even think of creating this type of musical!!!!!!!!!!
12-04-2006 @ 3:53PM
Lady DR said...
Hey, it's America! We'll exploit anything for the almighty dollar...and tell everyone it's not about the money!
12-04-2006 @ 3:56PM
Jane Emory said...
The musical was good and it got me thinking about some people like Rebecca Mark that made off with $83 mil and never was prosecuted. I appreciated the facts and to say it made light of everything is not true. It was funny and it seemed absurd but only from the standpoint of how little we the public can see what enough unscrupulous people can do. I think it makes you more likely to go out and question authority which is always a good thing.
12-05-2006 @ 2:42PM
Gunsmoke said...
Forget Enron,... do a "Prison Break" on Broadway instead.
12-04-2006 @ 4:21PM
Michael said...
Hey, if you're Republican and voted that way, and you lost money due to Enron, remember that the people you elected enabled Enron to happen and you got EXACTLY what you deserved. Don't vote for crooked bastards and then whine when they steal from you or help someone else to steal from you.
12-04-2006 @ 6:53PM
davea said...
Not to get off track here, but has anyone else noticed the big hate wars going on the US lately?
Christian vs. Muslim, Black vs. Jew, Non-Christian vs. Christian, Rednecks vs. non-whites, Republicans and Democrats vs. each other...
And that isn't even half the list of the hatred that's out there.
I have seen it growing more and more over the last 40 years and its depressing and sickening.
Maybe we can't "Just all get along," but if you have a platform about what YOU are about, I bet there a lot of people who would be happy to listen, but I am getting sick of people whose answer to everything is look how THEY (and you can substitute your favorite hated group here) are screwing up!
Personally, I am glad the man who wrote this tried to get the facts straight for the musical.
Was as musical the best forum? Maybe/Maybe not.
Maybe it is the only way he knew to speak his outrage.
Maybe it is all about the dollar... but if it was that, I think he would have had this whipped off and out their ASAP, not years later.
I am not sure Houston was the best place to release it, but maybe they are the only people still interested...
12-04-2006 @ 5:21PM
Bob Swanson said...
And you believe Ken Lay is dead I have some swamp land for sale in Florida -- not a chance, his cronies in Washington D.C. and Texas spirited him out of the Country to somewhere where he can enjoy the funds he stole f5rom all of us. It pays to have friends in high places.......
12-12-2006 @ 10:21AM
Mark Fraser said...
Thanks for the interest whether you agree with the musical or not. That is what makes blogging so valuable. We are all free to toss in our opinion. I am the author of Enron--the Musical.
First, the anti-republican guy is not aware of a part that was mentioned in the play. Enron and Ken Lay donated to democrats also--well over a hundred of them who voted for big business and Enron.
This was not for money, I wish I could make some, however... I put up my own cash to put this on, and considering the time investment, I could flip burgers at McDonalds and make more.
Watch the play. I give the employees and stock holders their due respect. It is the idiots at the top that I give none to.
Hate is and has always been more rampant than any of us would like to see. The Enron debacle caused pain to people of all races, nationalities, and religions. This is a time for the collective group to join together. We all hate corporate greed.
12-06-2006 @ 8:39PM
RICK BADMAN said...
I bet it won't feature the Bill Clinton dancers who will do the Monica with cigars firmly gripped in their mouths. You have to remember that thanks to Clinton's help and his hands off policy when it came to a needed fraud investigation, Ken Lay was able to operate and carry out his corruption without being bothered by the Justice Department. If the musical forgot about Clinton's association with ENRON, it would be like forgetting about Tiny Tim in "A Christmas Carol."