Bitcoin Play Debuts Off-Broadway in New York City
Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies have increasingly permeated popular culture, with various references in media. Recently, a play focused solely on Bitcoin was staged in New York, written by CoinDesk journalist Ben Schiller.
The production, described as an Off-Off Broadway show, featured a blend of humor that resonated primarily with those familiar with cryptocurrency culture. Voices providing background sound were mainly from crypto journalists, enhancing its insider appeal. The audience, comprised largely of crypto enthusiasts, responded positively to the humor, including comparisons of Satoshi to historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr.
The narrative loosely parallels the stories of Charlie Shrem and Sam Bankman-Fried, featuring a main character named Charlie Schwagg. The plot revolves around Schwagg's crimes related to open-source coding used for illicit activities, leading to his impending jail sentence. His mother, portrayed as an effective altruist, attempts to rescue him from imprisonment, while his girlfriend is more concerned about funding her yoga center.
Key themes include crypto, effective altruism, wealth, finance, and spirituality, highlighted through satirical lines such as “Decentralize your wallet, decentralize your soul.” The play culminates with unexpected twists, including a fictional yoga studio combining Bitcoin and spirituality. A sense of community emerged among attendees, reminiscent of shared experiences at crypto events, as they gathered to support this unique theatrical venture.