The psychological aspects of a seemingly content housewife who snaps and suddenly murders her husband are studied in the Nora Theatre Company's production "Not Enough Air" by local playwright Masha Obolensky.
Under the direction of Melia Bensussen, the production delves into the true story of the 1920s murder trial of Ruth Snyder, a young housewife who, with the help of her lover, killed her husband. The play's perspective is based on that of Sophie Treadwell, a journalist who had differing questions and views on feminism from her contemporaries, and who later wrote the play "Machinal" (1928) based on what she witnessed.
Spotlights and camera flashes create staccato moments amid the whirling atmospheres of the courtrooms and newspaper offices. Sophie (Anne Gottlieb) enters the scene after months of doctor−prescribed rest (she'd previously fainted in the office after becoming too emotionally involved in a story), and immediately becomes interested in the case of Ruth (Ruby Red Fox). Prohibited from returning to the office and writing the story, Sophie decides to attend the trial and cover it her way, a path that forces her to constantly fight emotion and hardship.
As a reporter in the '20s, Sophie struggles for equal treatment in a male−dominated world. Her emotions are characterized as feminine frailties, including her empathy for Ruth Snyder. While Sophie drives herself to a point of self−destruction in an attempt to make people understand Ruth's motives, her efforts continue to be ignored.
People focus instead on Ruth's violent actions and the attention−grabbing headlines they create. While Sophie's boss and co−workers in the newspaper industry see her as biased, they do not reflect inwardly and realize that they are guilty of bias as well.
"Not Enough Air" is incredibly powerful and introspective, with strong performances from every member of the cast. Gottlieb shines throughout the show, displaying the confidence and determination of a dedicated journalist, but also highlighting the intense feelings and weaknesses of her character.
The end result is the portrayal of a complicated woman who wants only simple things. She fears suppression yet desires intimacy, but only through her obsessive relationship with her work does she find a way to define her individuality. Sophie is desperate to maintain her freedom, just like the women in the murder trials that she covers.
Ruth's character is blurred for Sophie, who watches Ruth's case while experiencing a separate trial in her head. Marianna Bassham plays Ruth's ghostly double, who physically combats Sophie — a metaphor for the inner turmoil Sophie is experiencing. Torturous and maddening, Bassham's nightmarish character forces Sophie into a corner where she can finally come to a conclusion and find a sense of meaning and motivation for Ruth and other housewife murderers.
Due to Sophie's fears and doubts, it is not surprising that her own marriage exists under an interesting contract. Her husband Mac (Craig Mathers) lives in a separate apartment so that Sophie can maintain her own sense of self and be alone — a situation she considers necessary for writing. In the midst of chaotic psychological frustration and murder, Mac provides a steady sense of support and relief for Sophie. Yet their relationship has obvious rough patches as Mac and Sophie attempt to be independent and intimate at the same time, a combination that does not blend easily.
The set is minimalist and dark. While most of the stage is bare save for a desk and a bed, but cluttered items cling to the corners of the scenery in the form of newspaper stacks and filing cabinets. The set is appropriate for the play, as it literally provides a space for clarity amid a confusing and jumbled world of societal suppression, murder and politics.
"Not Enough Air" is onstage at the Central Square Theater until March 14. Student tickets are $20 with a valid ID.
