SF State theater goers got a preview of “Machinal” last Thursday at the premiere of the first main-stage production from the theater department this school year.

“Machinal,” written by playwright Sophie Treadwell in 1928, is based on the real life story of executed murderess Ruth Snyder. The play follows Snyder’s experience as a woman put on death row for murdering her husband.

As the play begins, it seems to chronicle the life of a fairly normal woman leading an average life. “As the story progresses, however, it is made very clear that [she] is unable to cope and adapt to the harsh, mechanical world of the 1920s,” lead actress Megan Hopp said.

SF State alumnus and award-winning Bay Area director Marc Jackson directs the show, which runs through Oct. 19. The 10-person cast, many of whom play multiple characters in the play, has been rehearsing for the production several hours a day, six days a week since August.

“As a result of each individual’s hard work, constant enthusiasm and willingness to work amongst one another, we were able to form a cohesive group that ultimately lead to an undeniably rewarding production,” Hopp said.

After all the preparation the cast and crew has done for the play, Hopp is excited that the production is finally happening. “As fun as the entire rehearsal process is, nothing can be compared to performing the show for a live audience,” Hopp said.

Hopp believes the audience will be able to relate to the themes of this play, especially in today’s uncertain economic climate. As described in the play’s program, the story takes place “in a time when a society was anxious about escalating economic pressures, dizzying accelerations in technology and mounting moral conundrums.”

“[The story of ‘Machinal’] displays a remarkably similar world to the one in which we live today, and to that we can all relate,” Hopp said.

The Oct. 9 opening preview was met with a roar of applause from the audience upon the conclusion of the play’s haunting ending.

“I thought the cast did an amazing job,” said audience member Gabrielle Yedid, a senior at SF State.

Nicole Faqerzai, SF State theater student and audience member, also had good things to say about the performance.

“I thought the whole production was extremely well done, from the sound effects to the acting,” she said.

Shows are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. in the Little Theater located in the Creative Arts building. The performance is approximately 1 hour, 40 minutes long, with no intermission. Tickets are $10 at the box office, which opens one hour prior to each performance.