Guest blogger Berrak Sarikaya reviews “Dry Powder” at Seattle Repertory Theatre:

It’s a tale as old as time: The President of a New York capital management firm throws a lavish $1 million engagement party coinciding with massive layoffs at a national supermarket chain following his firm’s buyout.  A PR nightmare follows as protesters harass the company’s investors around the country.

We get to know the other partners in the way they handle the PR crisis: On one hand, we have Jenny, who is stereotypically tough and no-nonsense, in competition with Seth, who wants to do the right thing but lacks the courage to follow through. The fourth character in “Dry Powder” is the CEO of Landmark, the deal that unfolds before our eyes on stage over the course of the 90-minute play.

All four actors have a firm grasp of their characters and bring plenty of bite to the dialogue, which keeps it engrossing and often quite funny. I certainly laughed more than I expected to during the bitter reality unfolding before my eyes. In addition to the actors, what impressed me most was the set. Minimalistic and modern, hollow cubes and rectangular blocks serve as furniture that is accompanied by blasts of techno music to signify the change in time.

The change between the scenes moved like clockwork, without any stagehands. How did that work? Well, why would I spoil the surprise?

“Dry Powder” opens a window into the high-stakes world of high finance, and it’s playing at the Seattle Repertory Theatre until April 15, 2017. Tickets here.