The play tells the unhappy story of Helen, a stenographer who marries her much older boss, bears him a child, and in the grip of an unrecognized and untreated post-partum depression, murders him.
By HELEN KAYE
Sophie Treadwell's Machinal was a hit when the drama premiered on Broadway in 1928.
Its nine scenes are based loosely on the sensational murder trial of Ruth Snyder the previous year, the first woman to die in the electric chair.
The play tells the unhappy story of Helen, a stenographer who marries her much older boss, bears him a child, and in the grip of an unrecognized and untreated post-partum depression, murders him.
Treadwell (1910-70) was a journalist, a fighter for women's rights and is considered one of the important playwright of the early 20th century. Machinal is making its Israeli debut at the Jerusalem Khan Theater. The production is directed by Sinai Peter and opens there on April 8.