Heartwood Theater presents 'The Machine Stops'
Under the guidance of Niall Lessard, nine cast members form the moving parts of "The Machine" in Heartwood Theater's "The Machine Stops" running July 17-25. Front, left: Roosevelt Bishop, Niall Lessard, Sophia Mansfield; back from left: Tristan Lambert, Rebecca Tomasello, Addison McCafferty, Tim Cunningham, Jay Long, Katelyn Prior, Natalie Friel. Courtesy of Heartwood
Vashti (Nanette Hennig Fraser) and her son Kuno (Jonah Daiute) with their Inner Voices (Soren Barker and Emily Sue Barker), in "The Machine Stops." Courtesy of Heartwood
Under the guidance of Niall Lessard, nine cast members form the moving parts of "The Machine" in Heartwood Theater's "The Machine Stops" running July 17-25. Front, left: Roosevelt Bishop, Niall Lessard, Sophia Mansfield; back from left: Tristan Lambert, Rebecca Tomasello, Addison McCafferty, Tim Cunningham, Jay Long, Katelyn Prior, Natalie Friel. Courtesy of Heartwood
Vashti (Nanette Hennig Fraser) and her son Kuno (Jonah Daiute) with their Inner Voices (Soren Barker and Emily Sue Barker), in "The Machine Stops." Courtesy of Heartwood Written as a rebuttal to H.G. Wells’ quasi-novel, “A Modern Utopia,” Forster set his story in the (then) futuristic world of 2030. The themes are eerily apropos in 2026, as he predicted the gradual but escalating rise of technological control over society – and society’s sense that “This is good.”
The script explores potential dangers of mounting reliance on technology and the subsequent isolation, alienation, the slipping away of human contact, and what it means for mankind to be truly alive and connected to the natural world.
The plot centers on the most basic human relationship – that of mother and son - attempting to find one another physically and spiritually, just before the controlled mechanistic society grinds to a halt.
A strong cast of 15 plays a multitude of roles, perhaps most notably “The Machine,” personified by an ensemble of nine. With Sophia Scott’s original score, original movement guided by Niall Lessard, and beautiful and sophisticated lighting and atmospheric design, “The Machine Stops” will be a very immersive experience.
One matinee performance and five evening performances are scheduled in the air-conditioned Poe Theater on the Lincoln Academy Campus, 81 Academy Hill Road, Newcastle: Saturday matinee July 18 at 3 p.m. And 7:30 p.m. performances on July 17-18 and 23-25.
Tickets are $5/students through college and $30/all adults. Reservations recommended by emailing info@heartwoodtheater.org or phoning Heartwood at 563-1373.
Heartwood’s 23rd season is sponsored by Bath Savings Institution. Student tickets are kept to a very low $5, through the sponsorship of Moody’s Diner and First National Wealth Management.
Address
81 Academy Hill Road
Newcastle, ME 04543
United States
