Calculated Acts

This FrenetiCore play stars a total zero

A A A Comments By Mary Templeton Thursday, Jul 20 2006

After the announcement that a high school student with a calculator will be replacing him after 25 years at his job, Mr. Zero does what any reasonable person would: He murders his boss. Sounds awesome, right? Don't cheer yet. Slaying "The Man" is the only brave thing Zero, whose job description and personality are summed up in the title of The Adding Machine,has ever done. "What do you expect?" asks Mike Switzer, director of the FrenetiCore Theater's production of the 1923 play. "The guy is a total zero."

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Zero's unfortunate appellation is no coincidence. He's presented a few opportunities for happiness but seems addicted to the cold, calculated world of adding. Despite the downer theme, Switzer says The Adding Machine,written by Elmer Rice, "is really a very funny play that asks important, relevant questions...It questions whether society makes people into zeroes or if a bunch of zeroes are what make society."
Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Mon., July 24, 8 p.m. Starts: July 21. Continues through July 29

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