Terry Morgan – ArtsBeatLA
What is real? Perhaps more than any time in human history, there is more of an ability to realistically fake anything. Worse, there are any number of people actively trying to use those technologies to mislead and manipulate others. This affects every aspect of our lives, and as a result the world is a more chaotic, distrustful place. Chatbots have infested every corner of social media and are difficult to distinguish from humans. People consider various AIs to be their romantic partners, as living humans get more distant. Lauren Gunderson’s play, anthropology, (the lowercase text is the playwright’s preference) takes this confusing situation as her subject matter, and although it gets off to a rocky start, it ultimately grows in power until by its conclusion it’s compelling and moving. The North American premiere production by Rogue Machine benefits greatly from its terrific quartet of actors, who bring visceral and affecting emotion to the show. Read more…
Tracey Paleo – Gia On The Move
So here we are in 2025. It’s the AI age, officially. And theater is adapting. Rogue Machine’s latest presentation, “anthropology”, a North American premiere written by Lauren Gunderson, and directed by John Perrin Flynn aims to pull us smack into the center of the algorithm. Only this adventure is not quite as hyperbolic as everyday headlines. It is, instead, calculably quieter and more insidious. Read more…