Raising the curtain: The play, The Adding Machine will be performed the last two weekends of October

Andrea Harris

Elif Erturk, a theatre alum casted as Daisy Diana and Tyler Mitchell, a second-year finance major cast as Mr. Zero in “The Adding Machine,” act out a scene from the play. “The Adding Machine” will run for two weekends, Oct. 24-26 and Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. while Sunday shows are at 2:30 p.m.

Be prepared to witness Mr. Zero’s life on stage as students perform “The Adding Machine” at the University of Toledo’s Center for Performing Arts.

Elmer Rice’s play “The Adding Machine” is a comedy that utilizes dark humor to express its message.

The protagonist is a man who has recently died — Mr. Zero — and the plot focuses on the events that unfold during his time in the afterlife.

Director Irene Alby, associate lecturer of theatre, said Mr. Zero is “the ultimate antihero.”

He is an unimaginative and irresponsible individual who produced nothing of worth or originality during his time alive, she said.

“Zero is a very interesting number because it sits between the positives and the negatives,” Alby said, “The number zero has the ability to choose and so does Mr. Zero. He is racist, uneducated. He blames everyone else for his problems and is completely unaware. He goes through life on automatic pilot.”

When Mr. Zero is presented with choices he remains apathetic to the people around him.

“Mr. Zero is a nobody,” said Tyler Mitchell, the second-year finance major playing Mr. Zero. “He never has a real original thought and is unwilling to take action to control his life.”

Mr. Zero was the role that Mitchell hoped for and the character is in stark contrast to his own personality.

“We are exact opposites,” Mitchell said. “He does not speak his mind or take action when it comes to bettering his life. I am always willing to speak my mind and not afraid to do whatever makes me feel happy.”

Mitchell said his favorite scene from the play is between Mr. Zero and his love interest, Daisy.

“During this scene, Daisy is trying to kiss my character and Mr. Zero is just clueless to what she really wants,” Mitchell said.

The scene displays Mr. Zero’s apathy for other characters, Mitchell said.

Keely-Rain Battle, a fourth-year theatre major, plays the role of Shrdlu. She described her character as deeply troubled, emotionally and mentally, and with multiple personalities. Battle said Shrdlu is “a very lovable, confused, creep.”

Although her character does some horrible things throughout the play, Battle said her character is difficult to hate.

“You still want to hug her and tell her it’s alright,” Battle said. “It is so interesting to play such an emotional character.”

Battle said she is excited to portray a character that is different from herself.

“[Shrdlu] tends to be very extreme and I am more relaxed and free-spirited,” Battle said. “She has had a hard life, and I guess we all have, she just deals with her problems a little differently.”

Battle said she enjoys the musical quality of the performance crafted by Stephen Mariasy, the sound designer.

“I can tell he works closely with Irene [Alby] to get the mood and feel of the scene just right, and it really helps us as actors,” Battle said.

Mitchell and Battle said they were excited to hear that “The Adding Machine” was chosen as the play for the fall.

“It is a really interesting and thought-provoking show, of course, with our little Toledo theatre twists,” Battle said.

Mitchell said the show was chosen because of its strong message and content.

In her director’s statement, Alby said the play provides thoughtful insight into the human condition.

“The fact that [Mr. Zero] continually chooses wrongly is an element of comedy and also a reflection of the cynicism that Elmer Rice had with regards to human nature,” Alby said.

Alby said she was the first to present “The Adding Machine” as a possible production for UT. Her colleagues were very supportive, she said.

“Our department as a whole is interested in plays that convey strong social and political messages,” Alby said.

“The Adding Machine” is an expressionism piece, Alby said. The play uses “heightened movement, vivid imagery, metaphor and mood,” she said.

Alby said she is confident that the theatre department will put on a great show.

“Our department is well suited for the kind of cutting edge theatre you usually see in big theatre hubs like New York and San Francisco because our faculty are all professionals who have lived and worked in these cities and done this kind of work,” Alby said.

“The Adding Machine” will run for two weekends, Oct. 24-26 and Oct. 31-Nov. 2. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30 p.m. while Sunday shows are at 2:30 p.m. Student tickets are $7, faculty, staff and alumni tickets are $10 and general public tickets are $12.