'Machinal' at the Manhattan Theatre Source

Dreamscape Theatre presents Machinal, by Sophie Treadwell, at the Manhattan Theatre Source from the 26 May - 19 Jun 2005.

Everyone needs to have a bit of time off, to get away from the various pressures of the world. But for one woman, the demands on her time have become all-inclusive, to a point where she literally feels she is drowning; and her only chance of escape is one of violent desperation.

Machinal is a shattering portrait of an ordinary woman literally devoured by society because she cannot keep up with its relentless demands. Demands for faster, quicker and always correct decisions - be it deciding who to marry or how to better perform at her job.

This theme of society's inhumanity to the individual has been explored many times over the years, in such works as Charlie Chaplin's classic 1936 film Modern Times and the 1959 Twilight Zone episode.

The cast, directed by Morgan Anne Zipf, features Molly Pope, Jake Alexander, Drew Kulow, Richard Lovejoy, Dan McEllroy, Brian Nemiroff, Chinasa Ogbuagu, Ruth Ann Phimister, Karina Richardson, Alondra Salinas, Jordan Smith and Steve Smith.

Machinal will be performed in repertory with Tiny Dynamite and 'Hamlet' as part of Dreamscape Theatre's Season on the Edge.