***RECOMMENDED*** As with all well-constructed dramas, audiences are often faced with more questions than easy or simple pat answers by the play's end. Such is the case with Raven Theatre Company's world premiere of playwright Paul Michael Thomson's "brother sister cyborg space." Highly relevant and pressing issues -- namely the climate crisis -- are addressed in Thomson's twisty script. You may not be entirely comfortable with the outcome. 3 SPOTLIGHTS
In a not-too-distant future, where water usage -- what precious minimal amount that remains -- is strictly rationed and regulated, while a quasi-militarized security force commandeers the law of the land and roams freely, a billionaire named Elon (Matt Bowdren) lives blissfully enjoying an isolated existence cloistered in his high-security compound -- which is his own personal Ivory Tower.
Crashing his idyllic reverie is an unexpected visit from his older sister Giselle (Brittney Brown), an environmental justice organizer who is on the run from said quasi-militarized security force as well as numerous other lawless brutes. Planning on using Elon's place as her hide-out, Giselle automatically settles in for an unwelcome stay. Assisting both Elon and Giselle as they negotiate attempting to re-establish some sort of a sibling bond is the snarky artificial intelligence device named Ava, voiced by Charence Higgins. Similar to your Echo Dot, only brought to you by a different billionaire.
In Thomson's new geo-political landscape, Earth and all of her remaining dwindling inhabitants have long passed the tipping point. Elon's solution is to create a brave new world upon either the moon or Mars. Utilizing most of those billions of his dollars, he has manufactured a spacecraft to transport himself and other wealthy, well-chosen elite members to escape. Think SpaceX, but just a different Elon.
Levi Wilkins has done a great job with his lighting design, particularly with the jarring and blinding use of light at the beginning and ending of the show. The projections designed by Michael Commendatore are also thoughtfully created and executed, adding plenty of global and environmental imagery to support the ideas presented in the text.
Much of the final third of "brother sister cyborg space" is extremely similar to writer/director Alex Garland's 2014 film "Ex Machina." Ironically, the character of Elon even mentions the concept of deus ex machine to his sister Giselle at some point. Without giving away any of the pleasant surprises, the very notion that artificial intelligence will eventually control the world is something that could easily haunt your nightmares and keep you up at night.
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"brother sister cyborg space" continues until March 17, 2024
Raven Theatre is located at 6157 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL
Schedule: Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, Sundays at 3:00 PM
Tickets: Please visit www.raventheatre.com
Run time is approximately 90 minutes with no intermission