Spring Break
New play set to hit stage this weekend
Kaylin Bowers
Issue date: 9/30/03 Section: A & E
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The play, written by Elmer Rice, deals with "man against the machine," said Scot Lahaie, director of theater. The play raises questions about modernism and post modernism, said Christopher Keene, technical director. The characters in the play are representations of what happens when machines take the place of people at work.
The play touches on humanism, socialism, communism and Darwinian Evolution.
"It pokes fun at mankind's lack of understanding of the universe," said Keene.
People think they figure out all these things about the world, humans and philosophies, but how much do they really know?
"It is a good discussion piece to get people to think," said Keene.
Even though the play originally dealt with issues in the 1920s, it also relates to current issues and ideas, as well as exposing the students to a new kind of acting.
"The style exposes students to symbolism. It's is a very expressionistic piece," said Keene, "This play won't be done in a community theater."
Lahaie decided to have GWU theater students perform "The Adding Machine" because it supports what is studied in the classroom. The students are learning about modern drama, realism and antirealism.
"It's different because it's not realistic. We are told to be more like cartoons," said Alison Rinehardt, one of many students who will be acting in this play. "It's fun to do because the acting style is exaggerated and the play has a good message about life."
The play is full of symbolism. Many of the characters do not have names. They are merely numbers, representing humans in the "ongoing struggle to find identity and purpose in an automated society where human identity is reduced to a sequence of numbers and human value is judged by productivity rates," according to the theatre press release.
Not only will the portrayal and symbolism be difficult to master, but designing a set to house the characters has taken a lot of creativity. Keene has tried to design a set by creating machines that spit out information at the characters. Keene drew out three different designs before he found one he was satisfied with for the show.
The set up is a little different from previous plays at GWU. At times, the actors and actresses will be on the floor close to the audience.
"The Adding Machine" will be a new experience for the people who attend as well as for the people who are in the play. Symbolism is used throughout the play in order to portray major themes about life and knowledge.
Information is one thing, but what you do with it is another. There is so much knowledge out there, but wisdom is the appilcation of that knowledge, said Lahaie. "The Adding Machine" takes a look at what to do with all the information that is accessible to society.