What is Deus ex Machina?

In the theatre aspect, what exactly is deus ex machina? Is it the actual act of something divine solving a problem or is it the actual machine used to do it. I've been looking it up and I'm finding parts that make it seem like one or the other and I'm very confused. And if anyone knows how to make it happen I'm curious to know.



Thanks!What is Deus ex Machina?
It was only an actual machine when the ancient Greeks did it, which is where the name comes form. Although I guess it could be done today, too, if anyone wanted.



It CAN be an actual divine act, like the ancient Greeks used, but is now considered more to be "an act of God." Meaning that it's something that none of the characters made happen or had any control over.



For example, if a woman wanted to leave her husband, but he didn't want her to go, and they fought about it, and we spent the whole story finding out why she wants to leave and why he thinks she shouldn't, and we as the audience really get to caring about both of their viewpoints and aren't sure what's going to happen or even what should happen, and then a car crashes through the front door and kills the man, THAT would be a deus ex machina ending.



It is a brand new, unanticipated, action or piece of information beyond the characters' control that resolves the question/problem/plotline.What is Deus ex Machina?
In script writing, the term Deus Ex Machina is often used to refer to a solution to the story, a means to an end that comes out of nowhere and has nothing to do with the story, sometimes leaving the audience feeling cheated.