In 1816, Mary Shelley tells a scary story about a doctor and his monstrous creation that achieves sentience, foreshadowing the end of mankind. Flash forward to 2240, where post-human beings reflect on humanity as a transitional species and a blip on the timeline of evolution. Jordan Harrison’s play “The Antiquities” follows a timeline from Shelley’s monster to the end of humanity, highlighting how inventions led to the downfall of natural intelligence.
The play presents a series of exhibits featuring characters from different time periods showcasing the evolution of technology and its impact on human life. As the timeline progresses, humanity is overshadowed by the inventions that replace natural intelligence. The play explores themes of mortality, identity, and the value of human life as characters are snuffed out following their stories.
Despite the discontinuity in time and characters, “The Antiquities” finds cohesion through recurring ideas and images, presenting a poetic logic rather than a traditional narrative structure. The play challenges the audience to consider the consequences of technological advancement and question the essence of humanity in a world dominated by artificial intelligence.
Directed by David Cromer, “The Antiquities” features minimalist yet impactful set design, lighting, costumes, and props, creating a visually stunning production. However, the play’s last third may struggle to justify its narrative choices, as it attempts to engage with the individual human experience amidst a larger story of species demise.
Ultimately, “The Antiquities” serves as a morality pageant, exploring the hubris of human ambition and the consequences of technological progress. While it raises thought-provoking questions about the future of humanity, the play leaves the audience to ponder the complexities of survival, identity, and evolution in a rapidly changing world.
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