Monopoly!

In this devastating monologue about monopoly and its discontents, Mike Daisey explores the warped genius of inventor Nikola Tesla and his war with Thomas Edison over electricity (alternating current versus direct current battle) that etched itself into the streets of New York City and the hidden alleys of American history. Electrocuted elephants, the secret history of the board game Monopoly, Microsoft’s antitrust lawsuit, and ultimately the story of Daisey’s hometown and its one remaining retailer: Wal-Mart. The master storyteller weaves a breathtaking number of threads into one illuminating monologue that explores the choices and struggles that individuals face when living in a system that recognizes only profit and loss. Jean-Michele Gregory directs.