In a world of black and white, Helen Jones wore navy blue. This simple detail goes to the core of Nomadic Theater’s powerful new play Machinal.
The opening scene of the play draws the audience out of time into a new, mechanical world in which individuality is forgotten, and the audience is introduced to the heroine, Helen Jones-the only character with a name in the whole play. For the entire first act of the play, Helen does all the things a young woman her age is “supposed to do,” but does not really want to do. It is initially difficult to feel sorry for Helen, as the audience experiences her pain without any real explanation of who she is. It is not until the second act that the real Helen Jones emerges. She becomes a multi-dimensional character and the audience begins to care for her.
Each actor in the production plays multiple characters, some even portraying two in one scene and, surprisingly, this works beautifully. The tone of the play is very weighty and somber, and the costumes, lighting and stage only compliment this atmosphere. A buzzing mechanical sound and a sleek, silver metal set greet the audience as they enter the Blackbox. Throughout the play this noise is audible, as well as an assortment of other machine-like sounds, heightening the mechanical, anti-individual atmosphere. The dim, low lighting accentuates the darkness of the play. The dialogue is relentless and the actors are believable. Caitlin Barr (CAS ‘09) shines as Helen Jones, and Courtney Burton (CAS ‘06) and Scott Chahanovich (CAS ‘08) also give admirable performances. The play hits on many of American society’s problems, questioning the existence of God, the role of women, the power of the self and the struggle we all face to maintain our individuality. This futuristic world seems far from today’s reality, but at the same time aspects of the audience’s own lives play out on stage.
Machinal challenges the entire notion of the ideal life of the American dream, and highlights its dangers. Helen marries a wealthy man and has a child, as a woman is expected to do, but as she continues to fulfill this ideal life her pain deepens. At the end of the first act, Helen cries, “No submit!” This is the turning point of the play, when Helen refuses to continue to buy into this false dream, and decides to truly live her life as she wants. But her decision also leads to her downfall. The themes of Machinal challenge almost every area of American life by the end.
This is the classic story of the American dream’s illusive nature told in an entirely new way. It shows the perils of individuality in a society that demands conformity. This play offers no redemption for any of its characters and no easy answers. At the end of the play the viewers must each decide on their own if they agree with Helen’s bold cry of “no submit,” or would rather live the lives they have been told to live for so long.
Machinal runs from October 13-16 at the Walsh Blackbox 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets ($8) are available in Red Square. For information or online reservations please call: 202-687-1859.
