Seeing as how I'm not entirely able to give a review on UNC's production of Elmer Rice's "The Adding Machine", at least not without severe bias, I figure I'd simply post the review given by the Greeley Tribune's Bryan VanDrie.
REVIEW: 'Adding Machine' cast, crew up to the challenge - are you?
The University of Northern Colorado’s Theatre Department opened the second half of its academic season Thursday night with Elmer Rice’s “The Adding Machine.”
The creativity demonstrated in this production sums up, in a nutshell, why this is the best theater program in the region. The vision and imagination demonstrated by the artistic team has to be seen to be appreciated.
Unfortunately, many who see it will not appreciate the show.
This unusual play is the story of a man who has the most dreary life imaginable. He has worked for 25 years as an accountant, only to go home every night to his hag-nag of a wife. When he snaps, and kills his boss in an uncharacteristic moment of anger, you might think his life will be changed forever. In fact, his life barely changes at all, only the setting of his existence.
Director Harrison Butler is brilliant in guiding the cast through this difficult material. Rice certainly doesn’t make it easy on them: The first half of the show features far more monologue than dialogue, and it would be easy to let your mind wander. Yet there is so much imaginative subtext and inventiveness to this production, you never drift away. Some of the unusual aspects of this show include the original music, composed by Aaron Liu-Rosenbaum, the brilliantly haunting onstage cello performance by Gal Faganel, the heavy blanket of fog throughout the show, and the masked chorus.
The technical staff pulled out all of the stops on this production, and it all works extremely well. Zak Keller’s constantly moving, droning set is brilliant, adding an amazing level of complexity to the show. Brian Hapcic’s lighting, complete with perfectly effective projections, is the best we’ve seen around here in a long time, a rare combination of artistically beautiful, always interesting and completely effective. Chris Lundahl’s sound is simplistic and flawless, which is also a perfect way to describe Aaron Sheckler’s costumes.
The only real drawback to this production is the story itself. It’s not a very pleasant story to watch unfold, and this is not a show for everyone. While it is a fascinating study of the human condition, it is an expressionist drama, at times bordering on the absurd. It is not appropriate for children, not so much for content as for the focus required to watch. Nevertheless, it is intriguing to think of this show about the industrial revolution’s impact on society being as relevant today as when it was written in 1923.
If you want a straightforward, easy-to-watch play, “The Adding Machine” is not for you. But if you are up to the challenge of a highly unusual, thought-provoking, intellectually stimulating and challenging evening at the theater, this is a show you should consider.
Bryan VanDriel lives in Greeley and has been active in the arts for over 30 years. He can be reached at bvandriel@aol.com.
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