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Machinal: Portrait of a Murderess
In January of 1928, a young woman named Ruth Snyder was electrocuted for the
brutal slaying of her husband with a sash weight. Playwright Sophie Treadwell,
the leading female playwright of her time, turned the story of Snyder into an
exploration of the factors in American life that turn a young woman into a
cold-blooded murderess, but from a unique perspective; the young woman's. The
result, Machinal was a Broadway hit in 1928, and has disturbed audiences and
social commentators ever since. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle: When
Machinal premiered on Broadway, New York Times critic Brooks Atkinson was so
blown away he wrote two reviews. He called the play "a triumph of
individual distinction, gleaming with intangible beauty." John Anderson in
the Evening Journal said the play was "a tragedy of sullen splendor."
The Daily News was chilled by its "cold perfection." The play manages
to be satirical and gritty at the same time, and remains unlike any other play
ever written; an expressionistic delight. Perhaps most disturbing of all is the
fact that Treadwell has almost been forgotten, save on college campuses, and a
few daring productions including London and New York over a decade ago.
The American Century Theater will produce Machinal, with Helen Hayes
award-winning director and actress Lee Mikeska Gardner directing. "The
young woman's journey towards murder and execution is so relentless; my job is
to find the counterpoint, what she has missed; the escape route that she never
finds. I think that Treadwell knew that there were opportunities available to
someone with courage, or resources or luck. That makes the girl's fate that much
more poignant. To see her have opportunities, but miss them somehow."
Footlights is especially fortunate to have Lee Mikeska Gardner as our return
guest at our monthly dinner-discussion on Tuesday, June 22 to help us unravel
the mysteries and themes of Machinal. Footlights member Scot Stone will moderate
our discussion. We will meet again at Guapo's, 4515 Wisconsin Ave, NW, upstairs
(202-686-3588). By Metro, Guapo's is right next to the Tenleytown station. Take
the east side exit. Turn right on Wisconsin Ave to 4515. If you do come by car,
try to park on the street, on Albemarle, 42nd or 40th Streets, behind the Metro
station. Arrive for dinner at 6:30 p.m.; the meeting is from 7:30-9:30 p.m.
This month Guapo's is again providing an excellent buffet for us for a reduced
price of $13. Coffee, tea or sodas, tax and gratuities are all included; a cash
bar is available. Pay us as you arrive, by cash or check, no credit cards. To
make reservations for the June 22 dinner-discussion meeting, call or e-mail Mark
Gruenberg, 202-898-4825 or [email protected].
We will need a firm commitment; please do not make a dinner reservation if you
are not sure you will be able to attend. If you must cancel for any reason, be
sure to notify Mark by 2 p.m. on June 22, otherwise you are obligated to pay. We
hope you will support the buffet. The space at Guapo's is far superior to any
other location we have found to date. We can continue to meet there only with
your support.
Machinal is available at our bookstores. Backstage Books (202-544-5744) 545 8th
St, SE, Washington, D.C.; Olsson's two stores: Dupont Circle, 1307 19th St., NW
(202-785-1133) & Bethesda 7647 Old Georgetown Rd. (301-652-3336); or
Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave., NW (202-364-1919). Ask for the
Footlights discount at Olsson's and Politics & Prose. Discounts are only
available as long as the bookstores buy and sell a large order of our plays. So,
whenever possible, please patronize our bookstores.
Machinal at T.A.C.T.
Machinal will be performed by the American Century Theatre at Theater II,
Gunston Arts Center, 2700 S. Lang Street in Arlington, Virginia, from June
17-July 24. Footlights will see Machinal on Saturday, July 24, 2:30 p.m. Tickets
are $18, and include a post-show discussion.
See a Play with Footlights
See our calendar of opportunities for theater-going below.. Tickets are
available for all performances. A note about discussion arrangements for Cyrano
at the Shakespeare Theatre: the theater has changed the date of the free
Classics in Context post-show discussion to July 10 instead of June 26, the date
of our matinee performance. We still have reservations for the discussion,
though it is now on a separate date.
About Footlights
To get Footlights updates on-line, send any message - even blank - to
[email protected].
Subscribers can post to our on-line list by sending brief messages to [email protected].
Visit our website at www.footlightsdc.org. Address all inquiries to Mark
Gruenberg, 202-898-4825 or [email protected].
Please support Footlights, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Send
your tax-deductible contributions to Footlights, c/o Robin Larkin, 5403 Nibud
Ct., Rockville, MD 20852
Reservations, Tickets
For all reservations to dinner-discussions, contact Mark Gruenberg,
202-898-4825 & [email protected].
For theater tickets contact Robin Larkin, 240-669-6300 & [email protected].
Send your check payable to Footlights, to Robin Larkin, 5403 Nibud Ct,
Rockville, MD 20852. Contact Robin for further information and to check ticket
availability, or you may now check at www.footlightsdc.org/performances.htm
for updates. To volunteer, contact Mark. We need people willing to help find
speakers, lead/moderate discussions, publicize Footlights to potential members,
help with site coordination, write and distribute newsletters, assist with
tickets at theaters, attend to a few legal matters and anything else you can
think of offering. Just ask Mark.
Calendar:
Saturday, June 12, 2 p.m.
*Performance: Martin McDonagh�s The Cripple of Inishmaan at Studio Theatre;
1333 P St., NW, D.C. Tickets $25; post-show discussion. Note: After June 8, call
MJ Schmelzer for ticket information, 703-524-7621 & [email protected].
Tuesday, June 22, 6:30 p.m.
Dinner-discussion: Sophie Treadwell�s Machinal; Guest:
Lee Mikeska Gardner. Moderator: Scot Stone. Location: Guapo's, 4515 Wisconsin
Ave, NW, D.C.
Saturday, June 26, 2 p.m.
Performance: Edmond Rostand�s Cyrano de Bergerac at The Shakespeare Theatre;
450 7th St., NW, D.C. Tickets $32; includes reservation for the free Classics in
Context discussion at Shakespeare Theatre: July 10, 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 11, 3 p.m.
Performance: Oh, the Innocents at Theater J, DCJCC, 1529 16th St.,
NW, D.C. Tickets $28; pay by June 25.
Saturday, July 24, 2:30 p.m.
Performance: Sophie Treadwell's Machinal at the American
Century Theater, Gunston Arts Center II, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington, VA.
Tickets $18; pay by July 12.