Machinal - Episode Four

Director

Competition Finalist

SDC Directing Competition at KCACTF

Sophie Treadwell

From the outside, Helen Jones and her husband had a ‘happy marriage’. Until she murdered him.  

Based on the true crime story of Ruth Snyder in 1928 that shook a nation, Sophie Treadwell’s seminal Machinal is a pulse-pounding journey of someone pushed to breaking point by the relentless machinery of life, expectation and convention.

In this episode, Helen gives birth to a child that she does not want. She does not speak or interact with the nurse and doctors who do not understand her predicament. She gets admonished by her abusive husband who forced himself on her before she suffers a mental breakdown.

Cast:

Young Woman: Asia Keane

Nurse: Stella Webster

George H Jones: Aaron Mueller

Doctor: Zane McSheehy

Young Doctor: Ashton Hale

Ensemble: Claire Thede, Tayden Baccam, Devin TeKolste, Emma Lea Werling

Sophie Treadwell’s Machinal is considered the high water mark of American expressionism and futurism. I really leaned heavily into these philosophies when directing this scene. This episode in specific is the best example of how a cold world mechanical world treats Helen. I wanted to use the ensemble to exemplify the world a world that does not care during the non-monologue parts of the scene. During the monologue, the ensemble comes to life, portraying the words that Young Woman says.

No photos available.

View Episode 4 here.