Machinal Knowledge Flashcards
Who wrote the play Machinal?
Sophie Treadwell
What event inspired Treadwell to write the play?
The Ruth Snyder/ Judd Gray murder trial, they murdered Snyder’s husband so she could escape their marriage and staged it as a home invasion. She was fascinated with how Snyder felt so trapped in a hollow marriage she felt that was the only way she could escape. Therefore wrote machinal
What is expressionism?
In this case a theatrical style, however it originates from the German film movement in early 20th century, later diverged into art, theatre and literature across the globe. The style focuses on the inner-world of a person, and portraying that through abstract, surreal, Hellenistic, uncanny visuals, using chiaroscuro lighting, high contrast makeup and costume, and irregular set designs.
When and where was Machinal first performed?
Plymouth Theatre on Broadway, 1928.
Who was on the key creative team for OG Machinal?
Robert Edmund Jones- Designer
Arthur Hopkins- Director
Give an insight into the context of the 1920s in America.
Prohibition of Alcohol, a rise in organised crime and gang culture. The rise of the “flapper” and the teenager, youth started to speak out and rebel more. The Boom, economic affluence, industrial revolution. End of WW1. Consumerism rose, home catalogues, the concept of the American dream and role of the Housewife. Car industries, Wall Street, factories.
Give am insight into Treadwell’s lived experience.
Her suffragette identity was important and intrinsic to her life.
She struggled greatly with her mental health throughout her life, was diagnosed with “Neurosthenia” (Anxiety), was hospitalised multiple times.
Her parents separation, didn’t group up with trad home life.
Her journalism career, and career as the first ever female war correspondent.
She was half Mexican.
Give a summary of Episode 1 - To Business
We’re shown Young Woman’s work environment. She arrives late to work, we learn this is typical for her. She is heckled by her colleagues for this. Her boss “Jones” is interested in her, makes subtle moves on her, she is uncomfortable by this.
Give a summary of Episode 2- At Home.
We meet her overbearing mother, young woman informs her she has been proposed to by Jones, who she despises. The mother taunts and insults her as Helen only tries to connect with her, gives no guidance. Helen snaps and let’s her emotions out via unkind words. She apologises.
Summarise Episode 3 - Honeymoon
Helen and Husband are on their honeymoon. It’s very awkward, she is not happy. He attempts to amuse her and fails, she is repulsed by him. She ends up changing into her night dress, terrified of her “wedding night”. He waits outside the door, whilst she cries.
Summarise Episode 4 - Maternal
Young Woman has given birth. She is not well. The nurse and doctors dismiss her state, the Husband appears, happy to have a child, brings her flowers. But she cannot bear his presence, it makes her gag, she ends the episode with a second soliloquy of panic and frustration, feeling trapped in her life,
Summarise Episode 5 - Prohibited
Helen and her coworker Telephone girl go to a bar to meet 2 men, telephone girl goes off with her man continue their affair. Helen and her man are left to get acquainted, he flatters her and they go back to his apartment to have sex.
Summarise Episode 6 - Intimate
The man and Helen lay in bed. Stage is in darkness. She’s written as “Woman” instead of young woman, showing how the experience has changed her and she’s come of age. They share an intimate moment, to her it is magical and exciting, to him it is just sex and not special for him.
Summarise Episode 7 - Domestic
Young woman - Husband read the paper and discuss trivial things. Domestic related conversations. Their relationship appears fo have calmed, then she has a sort of episode as she hears the voice of her lover and other voices speaking to her.
Summarise Episode 8 - The Law
There is a time jump. Young woman has since killed her husband, she’s in court standing trial. She’s heckled and interrogated by the room them finally admits to the crime, that she did it so she could be free and divorce wouldn’t have been an option.