Junk (Lincoln Center Theater at the Vivian Beaumont) by Ayad Akhtar #JunkPlayLCT

Junk is a cautionary tale of the go-go 80’s infatuation with junk bond financing and the daring and ruthless players who became, variously, rich, famous, infamous and criminal.  Leading the pack and played with a perfect combination of arrogance, charm and ruthlessness by Steven Pasquale is Robert Merkin.  Young, smart and married to someone equally savvy, he lives to win.  He is seen by others as Wall Street’s new king.  He sees himself as Wall Street’s new god, above the rules and above keeping the promises he has made to his very smart wife which will keep him on the right side of the law.

The story is framed by Judy Chen, a sexy young financial journalist who is planning a book featuring Mr. Merkin.  Teresa Avia Lim is terrific as a woman whose quest for the truth is sidelined by a callous need to find the dirt.  She enters into a relationship with a much older man, Merkin’s nemesis, in order to have more access; she will eventually sell her soul for the right price.

Junk has a huge cast, all of whom are stellar.  Joey Slotnick’s greedy and spineless Boris; Michael Sidberry’s outraged and boorish Leo; Rich Holmes’ furious and insecure Tom; Ito Aghayere’s Machaiavellian mole, Jaqueline and Ethan Phillips’ meek and bullied Murray raised the firmament even higher.

John Lee Beatty’s set, all 80’s glass, mirrors and lights is perfect; hard, edgy, a little cold, just like most of the characters.

Ayad Akhtar’s script, like all of his brilliant plays, is a runaway train of great dialogue and fascinating insight into what makes humans tick.

In the end, Robert Merkin will be brought low. Instead of spending his ill-gotten gains in his own defense he will take a deal that will leave most of his post-prison fortune intact.  We see that redemption matters to this Master of the Universe not at all; money on the other hand………….