Machinal


 * 1) //Machinal //by Sophie Treadwell is a version based on the real life story of Ruth Snyder, a young woman who was miserable, felt constrained by society’s roles set out for women like her at the time, and eventually ended up being her own undoing when she murdered her husband.
 * 2) I think the author told the story extremely well, or at least the production concept of dissatisfaction leading us to do crazy thing sometimes was conveyed. However, there was some obstacles such as the frenzied movements and unset-up stage that maybe didn’t help the telling of the story, or distracted from the plot.
 * 3) The subject matter seems completely worthwhile because underneath all the scenes, stages, and actors, Treadwell really tried to depict how it is for many women in mechanical society. We tend to feel bound by society and what it tells us to be and how to be. It feels like no matter what we do, we will always be one step behind the men or have to work twice as hard, or not be seen on an equal level. Society expects us to be dormant housewives and to be married soon, or at least the society in which Ruth Snyder lived. It’s such routine, mechanical world, with the same stuff every day, and so heartless and without joy. It can drive someone mad or at least cause depression, and Snyder felt trapped like many women do, which is why it led her to have an affair and eventually kill her husband.
 * 4) I think the actors conveyed the author’s intent because they would move really fast and hectic all over the stage, which was supposed to signify the frantic, industrial and robotic lifestyle of many people. They just do what they’re supposed to do, what society believes they should do—make money, get married, settle down— and never stop to ‘smell the roses’. I think all the actors really expressed themselves in a visceral manner. I feel like you could really grasp all their emotions, or at least the actor of Ruth. The supporting actors made the scene real in a lively way by making the set-up such as a ball.
 * 5) The physical production was obviously imaginative. The stage was barely set up as to allow freedom of changing of scenes and to kind of imagine the scene for yourself. Instead of using real props, the supporting actors made the scene and props basically. Blocks made up most of the stage and walls. Flashlights were used to guide us, which was really adequate. I think the physical production was good, but it could have been better. It almost seemed like there could have at least been a bit more use of props or actual chairs, furniture, etc. For example, Ruth was pulled behind blocks to represent her being sent to the electric chair for death, but they could have just used a real chair and show her in it.
 * 6) I’m not really sure how the audience felt about the play as there was no breaks between the play, but it seemed like everyone was really absorbed. I think we all agreed that there was no time to get distracted since there were so many tiny details or you could get lost really quickly. At the few jokes told, the audience laughed. I think I heard some gasps or sounds of sympathy for Ruth Snyder. There was a huge applause at the end though, so I think they received the play well.
 * 7) No I don’t think I could urge my friends without reading any reviews. I mean unless I read a quick blurb or watched the play, I wouldn’t know how to tell them about it and explain to them without giving the whole plot away. As I’m not the hugest theater fan, I do not take the time to urge friends to go see a play unless it was like life changing.
 * 8) My interest in a play might make me want to go see other plays by the author if the play was really enjoyable, but most likely I wouldn’t search for it myself unless it was //Hamlet,// which is my favorite play.