The interesting fact that it was written in the late 1920s, has not been staged on Broadway in beyond 80 years and is not a sexy musical. On the contrary critics praised the revival of Machinal and its star Rebecca Hall, expressing it to a must-see production.
The stylised drama by playwright Sophie Treadwell that opened during Thursday at the American Airlines Theatre was inspired by the true story of Ruth Snyder, a New York woman who was executed in the electric chair for the murder of her husband in January 1928 at the age of 33.
In addition, the New York Post said that machinal is a vivid, bracing portrait of a woman pushed to the edge, but it doesn't involve any weepy psychologising. What makes the show so fascinating is the contrast between its cerebral approach and Hall's compassionate performance.
(AW:SB)
