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Scene

Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

Gears turning

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It is difficult in these busy and trying times to venture out and enjoy the offerings of the local theater community, but every so often, there is a production of such extraordinary quality that it demands to be seen by every patron of the theater.

The current rendering of Sophie Treadwell's "Machinal" at Cal State Stanislaus is such an offering. The technical qualities are purely professional and the staging is nothing short of ingenious. The ensemble acting is so strong that one wonders if the young actors have any idea how difficult the material is.

The play itself, a precursor to the work of Harold Pinter and Eugene Ionesco, was a revelation. Sophie Treadwell deserves her place among the pre-eminent American playwrights. The production left me with a sense of awe.

Take my word: Don't miss it.

Ray Miller

Turlock