Jordan Harrison’s drama “Marjorie Prime,” playing at the Helen Hayes Theater on W. 44th Street and presented by 2ndStage, is a troubling look at what the future of artificial intelligence (AI) could hold.
In the beginning of the play, we meet Marjorie, an elderly woman who is having a difficult time accepting the death of her husband Walter. In an attempt to hold onto her memories of him, she gets a human-looking robot who resembles her husband at a younger age. She and her family members, especially her son-in-law Jon, have shared memories of Walter with the AI representation. Walter-as-robot is able to engage in conversations with Marjorie about her relationship with her husband. He speaks as if he is reliving different moments to help her remember them. While Jon believes that this is a good thing for her, her daughter Tess is not convinced.
This play will definitely grab your attention and your emotions, as you question whether it’s acceptable for a robot that looks human to replace loved ones who have died. Of course, losing a loved one is very painful, but is it right to tamper with the grieving process and someone’s acceptance of their passing? How mentally healthy is this? As the play goes on, the characters truly evolve in their acceptance of AI replacing a deceased loved one.
There are many moments in this play that are touching and hard-hitting. Harrison’s work challenges what it would mean not to accept the death of a loved one as final, and to instead have an AI facsimile that looks like your loved one come into your life, and share your memories of the person.
The cast is superb. Their performances are razor-sharp, and they let the audience share in every emotion that these four individuals are experiencing, including the skepticism and desperation that would make a person decide to choose the option of having AI replace a loved one. The cast includes 96-year-old theater veteran June Squibb as Marjorie, Christopher Lowell as Walter, Cynthia Nixon as Tess, and Danny Burstein as Jon. The precision direction of Anne Kauffman is captivating.
The production has a marvelous creative team, with scenic design by Lee Jellinek, costume design by Marion Talan de la Rosa, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design and original music by Daniel Kluger, hair design by Amanda Miller, and makeup design by Sarah Cimino.
For tickets, visit 2st.com.