Salem State Theatre presents Machinal by Sophie Treadwell

The Salem State theatre and speech communication department presents Machinal  by Sophie Treadwell. The recorded live performance is available to view online March 11- 18.

The play takes its inspiration from the real-life case of Ruth Snyder who, along with her lover, was convicted and executed for the murder of her husband. Although Treadwell was working as a journalist at the time, Machinal  is not a literal retelling of the sensationalized murder case.

Treadwell tells the story of “a young woman – any woman” who works as a stenographer in the industrial, male-dominated world of the 1920s. The play depicts her struggle for personal fulfillment in a world where isolation, commodification and automation overwhelm daily life.  The play’s soundscape rings with the sounds of the machines that dominate her environment and stifle her voice. An illicit love affair opens the door to joy and a new future, but when reality sets in and she must return to her routine existence, she will go to any lengths to keep her freedom.

Director Esme Allen notes that our current pandemic world resonates in sharing Machinal's story. “It forces us to isolate, distance ourselves and rely on a machine to connect. These “stifling” theatrical parameters are our inspiration as we explore a 90-year-old story with timeless themes.” This production was recorded live in the Sophia Gordon Center without an audience and following Covid-19 safety guidelines.

Tickets are $10 general and free for students.  This recording is closed captioned. Please be advised that this play contains simulated violence and capital punishment, mature themes, racially charged language, and is not suitable for young children.