How hip can a corporate behemoth be? Hip enough to slay its enemies in a rap battle.
In "The Wolf of Walmart," Brave New Workshop's latest sketch comedy revue, the Bentonville, Ark.-based company dismisses challengers to its position atop the retail sector with lethal lyrics.
But Drake, Nicki Minaj and even Iggy Azalea can rest easy. While imaginary Walmart corporate type Scott Jasperson (Bobby Gardner) can rope-a-dope Best Buy, Target and Amazon.com with his rap skills, Walmart will not be taking home any MTV Music Awards trophies soon.
"Walmart," directed by Caleb McEwen and Katy McEwen, is built on a simple question: If a mammoth corporation can control our retail choices, why can't said company determine the things that we find funny?
As the opening number comes to a close, a suited-up Jasperson walks onstage and takes over the show. Taking a cue from sales practices, he rolls back the satire, suggesting script changes for sketches as well as ways to boost sales of pool noodles.
The production offers some of the cutting-edge send-ups we've come to expect from the workshop, which was founded 55 years ago by Dudley Riggs and which on Friday had alumni such as Michael Anthony and Pat Proft in the audience. "Walmart" also has to take us inside the world of corporate control as embodied by Jasperson, who seems sweet enough but has a weird, haunting laugh.
It is a good show, but certainly not as funny as its two predecessors,which dealt more with relationships.
"Walmart" sends up other types of behaviors. There's the "Horse for Congress" sketch, in which a silent equine, on whom you can project anything, runs for office.
