Theater Blog

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The “Soap Opera” play by David Ives begins with a repairman named Manny, who is in love and may even have an obsession with a washing machine. The thought might seem a bit absurd which is where the term “theatre of the absurd” comes into context, because of Ives use of naturalistic conventions of a plot, characterization structure are distorted in order to convey the irrational, and fictive nature of reality on the isolation of humanity. The plot of a man being in love with a washing machine, and even resisting a relationship with a woman because of the jealousy of a machine is a form of drama that lacks purposelessness and a plot with a realistic or logical development. Repetition comes across throughout this poem, for the amount of times Manny told Mabel, she had jelly on her t-shirt, and the amount of times Mabel asked Manny to choose her or an appliance. The overall message or theme that is conveyed throughout the play is “people’s strive for perfection and sense of life”, “taking for granted the small things in life.” The style of the play is unique because it creates such great comedy but has a serious tone to it, because of its repetitiveness, and continuous structure of Mabel and a washing machine fighting for Manny’s affection. The repairman dwells upon the essence of human existence, for such things like Manny being fonder of a cold, emotionless but flawless appliance. And towards the end coming to realization that he needs imperfections, someone who is unique in their own way like Mabel. David Ives uses metaphors and personification to convey his message when comparing a washing machine to a real human, and giving it real life characteristics to display the tendency for humans to constantly be striving for perfection.