Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Amazon.com: Adding Machine: A Play in Seven Acts: Books: E. Rice

Amazon.com: Adding Machine: A Play in Seven Acts: Books: E. Rice:
"When properly rendered, Rice's 'The Adding Machine' is a powerful, weird, surreal experience. But notice that this edition is subtitled 'A Play in Seven Acts'. In the original script, there were eight acts (or 'scenes', really), but the original Scene V was cut to streamline the production (in 1923). When they revived the play in 1956, Rice revised and restored Scene V, and this is, in my opinion, the way it should be read. You'll find the complete 8-scene script in 'Elmer Rice: Three Plays: The Adding Machine, Street Scene and Dream Girl', which is also here on Amazon (ISBN 0809007355). But, really, you need to see the play before you read the text, if you possibly can. They filmed a movie version of it in 1969 (which I haven't seen), starring the inimitable Phyllis Diller playing Mrs. Zero. Leonard Maltin described this effort as 'flawed but interesting,' giving it two and a half stars out of four. So keep your eyes open for a dramatic or cinematic revival. Etaoin Shrdlu will thank you!"

I was wondering where the other scene came from...
now I need to get that version of the script...
hmmm...

No comments: