The Theatre Fairfield cast of “Machinal.”

Alexandra Burke and the cast and crew of Machinal were given a roaring round of applause as the cast finished the final performance Sunday at the Quick Center’s Wien Black Box Theatre.

The show was sold out with extra patrons waiting outside of the theatre in hopes of tickets becoming available. Machinal, written by Sophie Treadwell is about a young feminist named Helen Jones, who is rarely referred to as Helen. Burke, who played this role brilliantly, captured the essence of the young woman’s struggle. Through her, the audience watched Helen struggle for her independence.

Burdened with an aging mother, played by Kerry Davies, society’s expectations to marry and have children, and bills to pay, Helen finds herself working in a setting surrounded by machinery. She must also take the Subway to work, a transportation system she finds stifling. She marries her first suitor to escape her current lifestyle.

Adam Newson played Helen’s husband, the rich, successful, vice president of a company who does not attend to his wife’s needs or wants. He successfully played out the men of the 1920s attitudes towards women’s feelings of oppression. For example during a panic attack his character laughed and said, “you simply aren’t breathing well enough.”

Her first feelings of identity came when she was having an affair with Richard Roe, played by Jeremy Shea. Shea played the part of a smooth talking traveler, who rebelled and fought for his freedom, his character showed Helen a side of living she had never seen.

At the play’s close Helen is on trial for the murder of her husband, and is killed by an electric chair. She is the first woman to have been executed this way and her death is ironic to the plot of the play. Helen ultimately fought to get away from machines and structure her entire life, and at a time when she was beginning to finally become “somebody,” she was killed by a machine.

Michelle Onofrio’11 attended the play and also had to read the play for a class she is currently taking. “I didn’t see any differences from the text and the play, but what I did like was Helen’s monologue. Seeing it in person was much better than reading it. It was very well done.”

Anne Nieuwenhuis’11 had similar reviews. “I love going to plays and I heard this was a good play just to read. I really liked Burke’s acting. She was very believable and very consistent. She did a great job.”

The play was put on in collaboration with Project Peg and was directed by Martha Schmoyer LoMonaco. The Scenic and Lighting Designer was Karl Ruling, the Costume Designer was Julie Leavitt, and the Sound Designer was Amanda Xeller.

Also playing important roles were Chloe Ainley, Gabrielle Brygider, Michael Maio, Josh Matteo, Maury Yelinne Mosquea, Joseph Perkowski, Pamela Perrimon, Nick Phillips, Joe Plouffe, and Halimat T. Somotan.