Jack Gilhooley
The Machine
Full-length play — 6w, 9-12m
The corrupt political machine that influenced almost every facet of political, business and cultural life in Kansas City for decades was created with revenue from saloons, gambling and prostitution. The Machine offered patronage—chiefly jobs and government contracts—to its strongest supporters. The iron-fisted and shadowy government was presided over in the 1920s and 30s by Boss Tom Pendergast.
But prosperity often takes an inadvertent toll, often on an innocent party. Beautiful, young and affluent Mary McElroy — daughter of the Pendergast henchman and City Manager, Henry McElroy — was the targeted victim of a kidnapping. The crime was quickly solved, Mary was rescued and the criminals were arrested. But during her brief victimization, Mary fell in love with the handsome leader of the mob, Walter McGee. When he was sentenced to die, Mary sprang to his defense. That meant defying the very machine that afforded her such privilege.
First produced as a staged reading by Asolo Theatre Company in Sarasota, Florida, featuring Ed Asner as Boss Tom.
Characters
MARY McELROY — From late teens to age 31. Vivacious, lively (but ages considerably near the end).
ELLIE STOKES — McElroy family maid. Black.
CHARLES — A college student, then a young M.D.
SALLY — A young woman.
FATHER (later BISHOP) RIORDAN — At mid-30s and 50 years of age.
WALTER McGEE — Young, dashing, charming—and corrupt (speaks in a brogue) .
HENRY McELROY — Mary’s curmudgeonly father. City manager.
“BOSS” TOM PENDERGAST — Portly, dynamic, Kansas City political icon.
KEVIN LYNCH — A young, Irish-born bartender (brogue).
MATTY BURKE — A recent immigrant (brogue).
MRS. CLEARY — Crusty old woman (brogue).
BUCKY — An apprentice roue.
AMELIA PUCKETT — A pioneer radio talk-show hostess.
PAMELA MALCOLM-FORSBY —Visiting English journalist.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEY — Voice-over?
DEFENSE ATTORNEY — Voice-over?
JUDGE — Voice-over?
GUY B. PARK — Governor of Missouri.
Casting
THE MACHINE can be cast with a minimum of 9-11 actors (5-6m, 4-6f). There are 18 speaking parts and ideally the play would be cast with the same number of performers. But double and triple casting is encouraged — since the ultimate production consideration is usually economic — and the nine or ten performers could be cast accordingly.
FEMALE #1. . . . .Mary McElroy
FEMALE #2 . . . . Ellie Stokes (Black)
FEMALE #3 . . . . Mrs. Cleary, Pamela Malcolm-Forsby
FEMALE #4. . . . Sally, Amelia Puckett
MALE #1. . . . . . . Walter McGee
MALE #2. . . . . . . Henry McElroy
MALE #3. . . . . . . “Boss” Tom Pendergast
MALE #4. . . . . . . Charles, Kevin Lynch
MALE #5. . . . . . . Father (later Bishop) Riordan, Governor Park
MALE #6. . . . . . .Matty Burke, Bucky
OR
MALE #4. . . . . . . Charles, Father Riordan, Kevin Lynch
MALE #5. . . . . . .Matty Burke, Bucky, Governor Park
The Prosecuting Attorney, the Defense Attorney and the Judge appear near the end of the play in small roles and should be cast at the director’s discretion. Since they should appear in shadow or silhouette, the roles could be played by FEMALE #3 or #4 (more likely an attorney at this point in history than a judge) and by MALE #4, #5 or #6. They could all be voice-overs.