Overview
Synopsis
Mack & Mabel depicts the days of the silent film era "when movies were movies". Based on the real life story of the director, Mack Sennett, and his star and lover, Mabel Normand. Narrated in flashback by Mack himself, he begins the show a broken man. His beloved silent two-reel comedies are no longer hit with the audiences in the late 1930s. The silent film industry has been made obsolete by talkies and Mack is forced to sell his Hollywood studio. Alone on the stage, he reminisces about the past, recalling his early days in New York, his rising success in Hollywood, and his turbulent love affair with Mabel. Mack discovered Mabel when she was just a sandwich delivery girl and made her a star. Although he loves her deeply, he cannot bring himself to fully commit to her. Frustrated and humiliated, Mabel is driven into the arms of William Desmond Taylor, an unsympathetic director who leads her into a life of drugs and partying.
Show Information
Context
The idea for Mack & Mabel was first mooted by the director of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera to composer, Jerry Herman. Herman roped in Michael Stewart to write the book and the production opened for pre-Broadway try-outs in San Diego and Los Angeles in 1974. Gower Champion directed the production, and Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters starred in the lead roles. Reviews for the show were mixed, focusing on the poor libretto and dark ending. However, the show moved to engagements in St.
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Act One
It is 2am in 1938 and the lights come up on a darkened motion picture sound stage. Someone is pounding on the door and the watchman opens it to reveal Mack Sennett. He is in his late fifties and a little bit drunk. Mack is in a bad mood and demands Eddie turns the lights on. He may be bankrupt, but the studio is his until noon the next day and he is determined that it will be left the way he created it. Pulling out his battered director’s chair, he rants about the way ‘talkies’
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Character Portrayals
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Songs
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A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number.
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
THEMES
The Cost of Creative Ambition
Mack Sennett is defined by his singular obsession with making movies and making the world laugh. His artistic drive creates a clinical detachment from his personal life and the emotional needs of those around him, especially Mabel Normand. This relentless ambition drives Mack to prioritize slapstick comedy and studio production over his romantic relationship, leading to a profound loneliness and eventual professional obsolescence when the industry
to read about the themes, symbols and motifs from Mack & Mabel and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Key Terms
An actor is a performer who portrays a character in theatre, film, or television through voice, movement, and emotional expression. Actors interpret scripts, collaborate with directors, and bring stories to life for audiences. The term applies to performers of any gender.
In theatre, addiction may refer both to a character’s struggle with compulsive behavior as a theme and to the real-life issue affecting performers or audiences. Plays about addiction often explore psychological, social, and moral dimensions. It is a recurring motif in modern drama due to its human intensity.
A ballad is a song style that tells a story through simple, lyrical verses and a steady rhythm. In theatre, ballads are often slow and emotional, allowing characters to reveal deep feelings or reflect on personal journeys. They can be used to highlight romance, longing, or moments of dramatic intensity.
A genre of drama based on real people’s lives, exploring their challenges, accomplishments, and inner conflicts.
The creative leader of a theatrical production, responsible for interpreting the script and guiding the cast and crew.
The Keystone Cops were a group of fictional, incompetently clumsy policemen who appeared in silent film comedies produced by Mack Sennett between 1912 and 1917. Their chaotic chases, frantic energy, and visual mishaps became iconic symbols of early Hollywood slapstick humor.
The Silent Film Era refers to the period in cinema history from the late nineteenth century until the late 1920s when motion pictures had no synchronized recorded sound. Filmmakers relied heavily on visual storytelling, expressive acting, body language, and title cards to convey plot and emotion to the audience.
Slapstick is a type of physical comedy that relies on exaggerated actions, pratfalls, and humorous accidents to provoke laughter. It often includes broad movements, funny sound effects, and comic violence, such as someone slipping on a banana peel or being hit with a harmless object. The style originated in commedia dell’arte and became popular in vaudeville, silent film, and stage comedy.
A production created to showcase the talents of a specific star performer, often tailored to their strengths.
A variety entertainment form popular in the U.S. from the late 19th century to the early 20th, featuring diverse short acts.
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher