First I want to thank Dr. Jerz for making sure that this book was actually in the bookstore this year, last year I didn't even read it for class because I couldn't get a copy of it anywhere.
Ok, to Machinal, I didn't really like this play. It was kind of confusing. I didn't like how everything was so, well, machine like. What I did find interesting was my little investigation that I did. This play actually is actually based on stuff that actually happend. Once I read the background of the story I started to understand a little more.
The play was about Ruth Snyder, she was a telephone operator, and she did actually marry her boss. In the play it says that the young woman wasn't in love with the boss, but in truth, she thought this guy was her prince charming, at first anyway. She really did have a daughter, but I guess she just never really that "important". I felt really bad for her, considering she lost both her parents, even though the one wasn't so great.
This play and the real life story actually took place during the 1920's. Ruth was a big dancer, she really wanted to get into the roaring 20's. She met Judd Gray, who became her lover. They planned to kill her husband. Get this, she actually tried to kill him several times. Poor guy. In the end the Ruth and Judd got together to complete the deed. Jury's called it the dumb murder because it was so dumb. They didn't even do a good job getting rid of the evidence. Also, in the play it says that Ruth confesses in the court, but she didn't she was told that Judd had ratted her out so she confessed then they did the same thing to Judd.
I know these aren't the best details, that's why I want anyone who is reading this to click on the link :) It does a way better job than I can, to explain it, it's really interesting, I promise. They even show you pictures!
Ok, this probably wasn't the best blog entry in the world, but to tell the truth, the story behind the play was more interesting, I think it gives a better understanding. Oh yeah, I thought it was really interesting how Sophie Treadwell was a campaigning journalist. She wrote a play about Ruth all because she had been assigned to check it out.
Seriously though, check it out :)