University of Portland Pilot Scholars Graduate Theses and Dissertations 2014 Woman vs. Machine: Directing Machinal, Sophie Tredwell's Expressionistic Outcry Against the Male Establishment Erin Lucas Follow this and additional works at: http://pilotscholars.up.edu/etd Part of the Film and Media Studies Commons, and the Fine Arts Commons Recommended Citation Lucas, Erin, "Woman vs. Machine: Directing Machinal, Sophie Tredwell's Expressionistic Outcry Against the Male Establishment" (2014). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 17. http://pilotscholars.up.edu/etd/17 This Master Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Pilot Scholars. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Pilot Scholars. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. CONTENTS Chapter 1: Introduction 4 Chapter 2: Research 8 Historical Context – American Women in the 1920s 8 Technological Advancement 13 Treadwell Background and Views 16 Source Material – Ruth Snyder Murder Case 20 Expressionism 22 Chapter 3: Analysis 27 Given Circumstances 28 Theatrical Contract 29 Conflict 30 Genre 33 Characters 34 Theme – Female Identity in a Male-Dominated, Mechanized Society 44 Conclusion 48 Chapter 4: Production Approach 49 Scenery 50 Props 54 Lighting 54 Costumes 54 Sound 57 Acting Style 58 Special Problems 60 Conclusion 61 Chapter 5: Auditions, Casting and Rehearsals 63 Auditions 63 Casting 64 Character Meetings 66 First Rehearsal 67 Table Work 68 Style Work 68 The Jury 73 Prologue 73 Transitions 74 Conclusion 74 Chapter 6: Design Process 75 Scenic 76 Costumes 77 Sound 77 2 Lighting 79 Conclusion 79 Chapter 7: Post-Production Response 80 Chapter 8: Conclusion 90 Appendices Appendix A: Audition Notice 92 Appendix B: Production Photos 95 Works Cited 106 3 Chapter 1 Introduction Machinal, French for mechanical or automatic, is Sophie Treadwell’s groundbreaking expressionist play, written in 1928.