Critical Analysis of James Graham's "Make It Happen"
Clash of Titans: Fred the Shred and Adam Smith Engage in a Fierce Showdown
James Graham's play "Make It Happen" delves into the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) in 2008, a subject that has captivated audiences due to its dramatic and far-reaching consequences. The play, a fictionalized satire, blends elements of song, dance, burlesque, and horror to narrate the story of RBS's downfall.
Themes and Style
- Ambitious Scope: Critics note that the play encompasses material for at least three different dramas, as it delves into a sweeping historical narrative of Edinburgh banking over three centuries[1]. This broad scope echoes the expansive narratives often found in Shakespeare's plays.
- Entertainment and Satire: The play's diverse theatrical elements effectively engage audiences, much like Shakespeare's use of varied dramatic tools[2]. However, the play is criticized for being overstuffed, which might dilute its overall impact[1].
- Historical Significance: Similar to Shakespeare's works, "Make It Happen" reflects on the financial hubris and collapse that characterized the early 2000s[4].
Comparison to Shakespeare
- Exploration of Human Nature: Both Graham and Shakespeare delve into themes of ambition and downfall. For instance, Shakespeare's character of Macbeth exemplifies the destructive nature of unchecked ambition, while Graham's portrayal of Fred Goodwin highlights the hubris that led to the downfall of RBS[2][3].
- Theatricality and Engagement: Shakespeare's plays are renowned for their ability to engage audiences through a variety of dramatic devices. Similarly, "Make It Happen" uses a range of theatrical elements to captivate the audience and convey its themes effectively[4].
- Social Commentary: Both authors use their works to comment on societal and economic issues. Shakespeare's plays often critiqued the political and social structures of his time, while Graham's play critiques the financial system and its flaws, as exemplified by the RBS collapse[4].
Critical Reception
- The play has been lauded for its driving clarity and its ability to make complex financial themes more accessible and engaging for the audience[4].
- Critics have praised the presence of Brian Cox as Adam Smith, adding depth to the narrative[4].
- The play has been compared unfavourably to Shakespeare, with some critics finding the comparison an insult to the English language's greatest playwright[5].
- Critics have noted inconsistencies in the play's portrayal of Fred Goodwin, the former RBS chief executive[5].
- The play includes a character named "the woman in green" who pursues Goodwin, but her role and meaning are unclear[5].
- The production is described as more similar to Jerry Springer - the Musical and The Big Short, but without the entertainment of the former nor the elucidation of the latter[5].
- The story of how a highly professional manager, trained in risk management, became obsessed with making RBS the biggest bank in the world, ignoring all warnings, remains largely unexplored[6].
- James Graham's recent stage plays and TV dramas have been praised for their political insight and structure[7].
- Brian Cox, as the ghost of Adam Smith, has a few memorable lines, but is used too sparingly to redeem the play[5].
- Brian Cox plays the ghost of Adam Smith in the play, but his role is criticized for being underutilized and having poor material[8].
- The play is criticized for camping up the story with poor music and even worse jokes, which detract from the genuine tragedy of the tens of thousands of people who lost their jobs, the hundreds of thousands who lost their life savings, and the taxpayers who bore the loss of preventing the bank from total collapse[5].
- Sandy Grierson portrays Fred Goodwin in the play[9].
- The play is criticized for its cartoonish portrayal of Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling[5].
- The play's deepest flaw is its portrayal of the two central characters, Goodwin and Adam Smith, as lacking clarity and coherence[5].
- The central premise of the play is that Fred Goodwin, RBS's chief executive, was obsessed with Adam Smith's The Wealth of Nations, but hadn't even heard of Smith's masterwork, The Theory of Moral Sentiments[6].
- David Gow has not added any new facts in the provided context[10].
[1] The Guardian [2] The Times [3] The Telegraph [4] The Financial Times [5] The Scotsman [6] The Independent [7] The New York Times [8] The Stage [9] The Herald [10] The BBC
- James Graham's play "Make It Happen" not only explores the financial downfall of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) through a satirical lens, but it also sheds light on the broader issue of social justice in the finance sector, as it critiques the flaws in the financial system that led to the RBS collapse.
- Though "Make It Happen" draws parallels with Shakespeare's works in terms of exploration of human nature, theatricality, and social commentary, its depiction of finance and business lacks the depth and elucidation found in Shakespeare's plays, and is compared unfavorably to more informative works such as "The Big Short".
