Can a highly educated, seasoned journalist survive in working class conditions? According to Barbara Ehrenreich in her book Nickel and Dimed, no; and Joan Holden does her best to explain why in her adaptation play by the same name.

Produced and performed by the Curious Theatre Company, Nickel and Dimed is the story of journalist Barbara Ehrenreich’s journey into the working class world on a secret mission to learn how it is that this particular group of people survives from day to day.

Are there certain special tricks that are known by these people that allow them to survive?

In the play, we follow Barbara on her journey through the working class society in three different cities across the country; from Key West, Florida to Maine and even Minnesota.

In each location she tries to procure the cheapest residence she can, while still having a certain level of cleanliness and security.

She also then obtains a working-class job in order to see whether or not she can work in these levels of jobs and still make enough at the end of the month for food, transportation, and the next months rent. Dee Covington’s portrayal of the ambitious Barbara was pulled off to a T.

The rest of the cast (consisting of Billie McBride, Gwen Harris, Christopher Lee, Laura Chavez and Kendra Crain) supplemented and filled out the play excellently by transforming themselves into the many different people that Barbara encountered on her three-month trek.

Directed by Chip Walton, the play explores the true grittiness of living and trying to survive in a poverty-plagued level of our own society. Lighting design was done by William “Davy” Davis who is an associate professor and the chair of the theatre department.

Even though you may not like to watch the subject matter, this is still a play that you need to see. It illustrates and shines a bright light on a major problem in our country, and it does it very well.

By the end of the night you leave the theatre with a better understand of what the problem is, and a good start on what you can do about it.

Nickel and Dimed is playing now through October 25th at Curious Theatre. For tickets, call the Curious Theatre Company box office at 303-623-2349.