[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of THE ROAD THEATRE COMPANY’s production of HIGH MAINTENANCE by Peter Ritt, directed by Stan Zimmerman, running through May 19.
Imagine if you will the prospect of android actors…a huge leap I know from AI to three-dimensional humanlike bipeds. But it wasn’t so long ago that the horror of AI co-star actors in films was only a glimmer in every movie executive’s eye. The premise of this very clever play is that a start up, of course, has developed a humanoid robot that can act. Or at least try to act. It’s hired on to a new play. The lead actress of the play was a huge TV star until a recent disgrace, and is in dire need of a career revival. So she takes a dangerous leap, potential career suicide in fact, and signs on, in spite of the prospect of a literally robotic leading man.
Of course, the robot, android, whatever you might call him turns out to be exceptional, after much rehearsal, comical absorbing of human characters and quite a lot of hilarious mimicry. Much like AI, this android learns human response from humans…at lightning-like speed. So be careful what you say out loud, if the ads popping up on my google searches are anything to go by! It’s a lovely premise, and very cleverly executed. The performances are first rate and even the robot is compelling…which is saying a lot.
High Maintenance is a comic, albeit an unnerving glimpse into our near future. Full of wonderful observational comedy deftly directed and artfully acted. A sobering stare into the future of art as a whole.
I’m sure the actors on stage and, especially the very fine actor playing the robot, must be more than a little alarmed by the almost-reality of this excellent story.
The human actors are all excellent, fully embracing the absurdity of the premise while still fearlessly facing the pseudo reality of it. A tricky path to walk, without bending too far one way or the other.
But these powerful, skillful and accomplished actors seem effortless in their execution. The result of all this work is a fine play brilliantly produced and full of fun and wry ironic humor.
But it still acts as a warning. A foreshadowing I suppose, although mercifully a few decades off…unless someone knows something I do not…which is always entirely possible.
Peter Ritt’s High Maintenance was first given a staged reading at The Road Theatre Summer Playwrights Festival in 2023. So, as usual, The Road honors its remarkable and ambitious intention for emerging playwrights. What would we do without them?
High Maintenance is the first of two world premieres performed in rep this season at The Road. Stay tuned for the other, SINGULARITIES or the Computers of Venus.
Tickets:
The Cast
The cast of HIGH MAINTENANCE will feature (in alphabetical order); Tommy Dickie as “Thesbot Prime,” Kris Frost as “Alan,” Alexis Ingram as “Samm,” Ivy Khan as “Laura,” Merrick McCartha as “Gus,” Christian Prentice as “Roger,” and Amy Tolsky as “Vera.”
The Design Team
Scenic Design by Brian Graves; Lighting Design by Derrick McDaniel; Sound Design by David B. Marling; Projection Design by Ben Rock; Costume Design by Jenna Bergstraesser. The Production Stage Manager is Maurie Gonzalez. The Producers are Taylor Gilbert and Danna Hyams.
Where:
The Road Theatre
10747 Magnolia Blvd. NoHo Arts District, CA 91601
When:
Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm
HIGH MAINTENANCE: April 12-May 19
SINGULARITIES or the Computers of Venus: April 26 – June 2
Sunday Performances are Pay-What-You-Can