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Moist Von Lipwig is given another offer that is too good to refuse.  Who would not wish to be the man in charge of the Ankh-Morpork Royal Mint?  It’s a job for life but, as former con man Moist Von Lipwig is learning, life is not necessarily for long. The Chief Cashier is almost certainly a vampire, every day Moist has to take the Chairman for “walkies” and there’s something nameless in the cellar.  Oh, and it turns out that the Royal Mint runs at a loss.  According to Moist, that’s what happens when you base the value of your monetary system on gold.  So just what should he base it on?  Potatoes?  Dibbler’s famous pies?  Golems?  Or maybe something as simple as trust?  Moist is thinking it should be based on trust.  But that could be difficult when he is about to be exposed as a fraud.

On the bright side, the Assassin’s Guild might get him first. In fact a lot of people want him dead. 

Everywhere he looks he’s making enemies when what he should be doing is making money.

Reviews:

From Fringe Benefits, 15 April 2009 Full review here: http://www.fringebenefits.com.au/?p=1220

"Local director Pamela Munt ... presents a coherent cast of fourteen talented actors; an appealing versatile set and complementary soundtrack.

Working through a well written witty script, the cast, led ably by Paul Briske (Moist Von Lipwig) and Mark Ormsby (Mr Bent), perform convincingly and maintain fairly consistent British accents. The cast do not just present Pratchett’s fantasy world, rather they engage and involve the audience in it.

The Bakehouse Theatre’s stage space is certainly optimised for this occasion. The set incorporates different levels; it looks like scaffolding set up against the back wall. The basic bare set contrasts well against the lavish props: rich mahogany desks, luxurious rugs, the banker’s green lamp, the strange brass contraption (the Glooper), and the Mint’s production line.

The play is very well paced; it ambles along. Everything, from the seamless transitions from scene to scene, provided by the great stage crew, to the lighting sequences and fun songs about money that effectively divert the audience’s attention, contributes to this steady pace.

Familiar or not with Terry Pratchett’s novels, this show is highly entertaining and provides an interesting reflection on the current global financial crisis.

A good giggle."

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Independent Weekly
by STEPHEN DAVENPORT 14/04/2009

"Waves of laughter roll around the Bakehouse. Unseen Theatre Company’s latest production is bang on the money.

Pamela Munt’s adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s 36th Discworld novel Making Money, is thoroughly knowing, eminently funny and altogether fabulous. By some tight direction and remarkable casting she fuses her amateur players into two hours of hilarity.

Admittedly, there’s more ham on the stage in this farce than at Paul Keating’s pig farm. But that’s how it should be, as the ensemble grapples with Pratchett’s delicious parody.

Unseen’s timing is almost perfect and the ensemble proves that "Sometimes glass glitters more than diamonds because it has more to prove."

This crew know exactly how far to take the overacting without losing the play’s balance between humour and sardonic bite.    Moist Von Lipwig is the kind of man who knows how to put the sizzle in a sausage. He’s placed in charge of the Bank of Ankh-Morpork.

Topsy Lavish, the bank’s chairman, instantly suspects he’s a conman. “I wouldn't trust you with a bucket of water if my knickers were on fire!” she accuses.  In her will, she leaves her beloved pooch Mr Fusspot 50% of the bank and since the dog owns another 1% that makes him the chairman.

Adora Dearheart, Moist’s fiancé, sums up the plot. “A mad old lady – all right, a very astute mad old lady – died and gave you her dog, which sort of wears this bank on it’s collar, and you’ve told everyone that gold is worth less than potatoes, you’ve upset the nastiest family in the city, people are queuing to join the bank because you make them laugh…what have I missed?”

Well apart from neurotic employees, fornication in the vaults and other assorted lunacy quite a lot actually.

Paul Briske - resplendent in gold lame suit – is unremittingly outlandish as Moist, Michael Coumi treads a fine line between villainous and comedic as Cosmo Lavish and the rest of the cast are charming, inventive and engaging throughout.

Making Money is Unseen’s slickest Pratchett to date, and there’s plenty to admire about this golden production."
 

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From the ATG review by Brian Godfrey

"A standout performance from Ann Portus in the roles of Topsy Lavish and Miss Drapes; nice cameos by Fiona Lardner as Evita-ish socialite, Pucci Lavish, and Pamela Munt as a throaty Mr Toad-like lawyer; and a well portrayed Gladys, the Golem from Jessica Barlow... Philip Lineton looks and sounds the part... his “Igor” ... is very funny.    
Paul Briske as ‘golden’ boy Moist Von Lipwig keeps the momentum flowing well and displays great comic flair."