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Machinal

Presented by Paper Chairs at Salvage Vanguard Theater

May 28-June 13, 2010

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Paper Chairs proudly announces its first production, Machinal, written by Sophie Treadwell, directed by Dustin Wills. Machinal is Sophie Treadwell's Prohibition-era sensation that stunned audiences in the early 1930's and largely disappeared from theatres until recent years. This expressionist masterpiece is based on the real-life trial and conviction of Ruth Snyder imaginatively restructured and retold by Treadwell in nine episodes of a woman's everyday life.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Venue Info

    Salvage Vanguard Theater

    2803 Manor Road
    Austin, TX 78722

    Full map and directions

  • Admission Info

    Tickets:

    Friday-Sunday tickets are sliding scale $15-$30; Thursday is Pay-What-You-Want.

  • Dates & Times

    Dates:
    May 28-June 13, 2010

    Times:
    

    8pm

    
    On Saturday, June 5th VSA Texas offers Audio Description for the blind and visually impaired.

  • Accessibility Info

    Currently, no accessibility information is available for this event.

  • Video & Image Gallery

    Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.

  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: Machinal
      "I was visually impressed...but I didn't care."
      Review posted by: Tom Ott from Austin, Tx, Jun 07, 2010
      

      I loved watching this play. The sound design, lighting, set design, and movement were terrific. All visual elements were clicking. I wish the acting was as powerful as the visual. I was just not... Expand

      I loved watching this play. The sound design, lighting, set design, and movement were terrific. All visual elements were clicking. I wish the acting was as powerful as the visual. I was just not impressed with the young actress who played the young woman. She was one note throughout the entire play. With such a great character that Treadwell penned it is a pity that there is no change in her character even when she gets what she wants. Since her role is very central to the story it was hard for me to empathize or sympathize with her plight. That is not to say that there aren't some good performances. Robert Pierson is great in his many roles, and Tom Truss plays the creepy husband well. To sum up I was visually impressed but just didn't care what happened to the young woman who was trapped in the machine. Collapse

    • Event Name: Machinal
      "Wow! You think theater isn't for you? Go see this play."
      Review posted by: Sarah Saltwick from Austin TX, Jun 04, 2010
      

      A thrillingly creative professional production. The acting is perfect - both stylized and believable, never forced. I love this script but it's tough one. A lesser production could have been too... Expand

      A thrillingly creative professional production. The acting is perfect - both stylized and believable, never forced. I love this script but it's tough one. A lesser production could have been too intellectual or too emotional but this has a wonderful sense of balance. Oh it's so good! The brilliant set and lighting design are perfect for the play and radiant with meaning. If your (or your loved ones) recent theater experiences have been disappointing, go see this play. The production does what I believe theater does best - it creates a rich world, tells a powerful story and gives you an experience to remember. And talk about beyond that night. Collapse

    • Event Name: Machinal
      "Machinal"
      Review posted by: Michael Alan Foster from austin, Jun 03, 2010
      

      Machinal is a play that made me both laugh loudly and think deeply. This can be an unusual combination! The play IS both unusual and exceptional. Paper Chairs' production of this sensational work by... Expand

      Machinal is a play that made me both laugh loudly and think deeply. This can be an unusual combination! The play IS both unusual and exceptional. Paper Chairs' production of this sensational work by Sophie Treadwell is nothing short of brilliant. It is well: scripted, staged, acted, and directed. The pace of forward movement can be a bit slow, which to my mind reflects the slowly unfolding but ever-escalating sense of frustration the main female character, The Young Woman, feels as she finds herself trapped in her "machine-like" existence. The theater in the round seating at Salvage Vanguard makes every seat an excellent one. The raised stage is covered with a series of trap doors that hide the props of the play and the actors "machine-like" open, remove, place, use, and then remove items as needed.. this too ties into the plot of this truly outstanding play that is played with great dexterity and sensitivity by a very fine group of actors. This is a play for adults... Collapse

    • Event Name: Machinal
      "The breaking of the heart & soul like fine china in silence."
      Review posted by: L.Johnson from Austin, TX, Jun 01, 2010
      

      WoW! I hadn't expected this, not a moment spared on dribble, characters so defined as to be authentic. Truly a remarkable piece involved storytelling at it's finest. Silence and Sound so seemlessly... Expand

      WoW! I hadn't expected this, not a moment spared on dribble, characters so defined as to be authentic. Truly a remarkable piece involved storytelling at it's finest. Silence and Sound so seemlessly engaged me into each new event. Well done and a truly remarkable piece of theater in Austin. Collapse

• Media
  Gallery

  • All Media Gallery

    Currently, additional images/videos have not been submitted for this event.

• Member
  Reviews

  • Member Reviews

    Add review/comment

    • Event Name: Machinal
      "I was visually impressed...but I didn't care."
      Review posted by: Tom Ott from Austin, Tx, Jun 07, 2010
      

      I loved watching this play. The sound design, lighting, set design, and movement were terrific. All visual elements were clicking. I wish the acting was as powerful as the visual. I was just not... Expand

      I loved watching this play. The sound design, lighting, set design, and movement were terrific. All visual elements were clicking. I wish the acting was as powerful as the visual. I was just not impressed with the young actress who played the young woman. She was one note throughout the entire play. With such a great character that Treadwell penned it is a pity that there is no change in her character even when she gets what she wants. Since her role is very central to the story it was hard for me to empathize or sympathize with her plight. That is not to say that there aren't some good performances. Robert Pierson is great in his many roles, and Tom Truss plays the creepy husband well. To sum up I was visually impressed but just didn't care what happened to the young woman who was trapped in the machine. Collapse

    • Event Name: Machinal
      "Wow! You think theater isn't for you? Go see this play."
      Review posted by: Sarah Saltwick from Austin TX, Jun 04, 2010
      

      A thrillingly creative professional production. The acting is perfect - both stylized and believable, never forced. I love this script but it's tough one. A lesser production could have been too... Expand

      A thrillingly creative professional production. The acting is perfect - both stylized and believable, never forced. I love this script but it's tough one. A lesser production could have been too intellectual or too emotional but this has a wonderful sense of balance. Oh it's so good! The brilliant set and lighting design are perfect for the play and radiant with meaning. If your (or your loved ones) recent theater experiences have been disappointing, go see this play. The production does what I believe theater does best - it creates a rich world, tells a powerful story and gives you an experience to remember. And talk about beyond that night. Collapse

    • Event Name: Machinal
      "Machinal"
      Review posted by: Michael Alan Foster from austin, Jun 03, 2010
      

      Machinal is a play that made me both laugh loudly and think deeply. This can be an unusual combination! The play IS both unusual and exceptional. Paper Chairs' production of this sensational work by... Expand

      Machinal is a play that made me both laugh loudly and think deeply. This can be an unusual combination! The play IS both unusual and exceptional. Paper Chairs' production of this sensational work by Sophie Treadwell is nothing short of brilliant. It is well: scripted, staged, acted, and directed. The pace of forward movement can be a bit slow, which to my mind reflects the slowly unfolding but ever-escalating sense of frustration the main female character, The Young Woman, feels as she finds herself trapped in her "machine-like" existence. The theater in the round seating at Salvage Vanguard makes every seat an excellent one. The raised stage is covered with a series of trap doors that hide the props of the play and the actors "machine-like" open, remove, place, use, and then remove items as needed.. this too ties into the plot of this truly outstanding play that is played with great dexterity and sensitivity by a very fine group of actors. This is a play for adults... Collapse

    • Event Name: Machinal
      "The breaking of the heart & soul like fine china in silence."
      Review posted by: L.Johnson from Austin, TX, Jun 01, 2010
      

      WoW! I hadn't expected this, not a moment spared on dribble, characters so defined as to be authentic. Truly a remarkable piece involved storytelling at it's finest. Silence and Sound so seemlessly... Expand

      WoW! I hadn't expected this, not a moment spared on dribble, characters so defined as to be authentic. Truly a remarkable piece involved storytelling at it's finest. Silence and Sound so seemlessly engaged me into each new event. Well done and a truly remarkable piece of theater in Austin. Collapse

• Media
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  • Media Reviews

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