Robots take over the world, brutally execute most of the human race, and force the survivors to work extracting minerals two kilometres underground.
Many years later, Executive Producer Master Bot (Sean Walsh) writes a play. He then summons former theatre director Giles (Damon Lockwood) up from the mines and demands he put it on for him. The robot also wants Giles to teach him to feel emotion. If Giles refuses, he will be beaten to death with a chain.
Perhaps not the premise you might expect from a work of comedy, though this is precisely how Robots Vs. Art is billed. Prior to its current season at the Blue Room in Perth, it was performed as part of the Melbourne Comedy Festival. But despite the apparently dark premise, and the reasonably cliched concept of a robot-driven apocalypse, Travis Cotton has written a very funny, very fresh piece of theatre. In it, the robots decided to destroy the human race after calculating that humans would otherwise destroy the earth, a moral that is perhaps hit a little too hard over the course of the performance. What’s interesting about Cotton’s take, though, isn’t so much the claim that everything would be better off without us, but more the responsibility human emotion, and art by extension, has over our destructive tendencies.
Cotton does pass over some potentially very sinister undertones unfortunately; the irony of Giles being charged with teaching the Executive Producer Master Bot precisely what contributed robots destroying the human race in the first place is touched on but not fully acknowledged. Robots Vs. Art also suffers from some inefficiencies. The script comes off as somewhat sprawling, attempting to support one story arch too many. Also, the only female character, German Integrator Bot, played well by Renee Newman-Storen, is wooden and under-developed. Even Ben Mortley’s clumsy Claw Bot is made essential to the balanced dynamic of the performance, while Newman-Storen’s character serves as love interest only with little opportunity to evolve.
Regardless, it is evident that a great deal of experience went into this production. The roles demanded focus, speed and timing, which is delivered in spades by all four performers. The distinction between human and robots is pronounced but communicated subtly through facial expression and gesture. The scene changes are efficient and clever, the set is simple and versatile, Joe Lui’s lighting is stark and subtle, while Philip Miolin’s direction ensures a slick, professional production. Thatsanono Theatre aims to create entertaining, thought-provoking theatre and they have succeeded with Robots Vs. Art. The play is extremely commendable in the way it makes its audience think while making them laugh.
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
The Blue Room and Thatsanono present:
Robots Vs. Art
Director: Philip Miolin
Writer: Travis Cotton
Lighting and Sound Designer: Joe Lui
AV Designer: Tim Barretto
Production and Stage Manager: Jennifer Friend
Publicist: Gemma SidneyCast includes Damon Lockwood, Sean Walsh, Renee Newman-Storen, Ben Mortley
Blue Room Theatre, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
14 May – 1 June 2013
