Marjorie (right), played by senior Elizabeth Davenport, speaking with an artificial intelligence version of her deceased husband, played by sophomore Jon Bouvier in Lee Theatre's first production of the season, “Marjorie Prime.” The show opens Friday and runs this weekend and next.
Lee University Theatre will open its 2017-2018 season with the intriguing sci-fi play “Marjorie Prime” by Jordan Harrison. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and Sept. 28-30 in the Buzz Oates Black Box Theater, in Lee’s Communication Arts Building.
In “Marjorie Prime,” 85-year-old Marjorie, played by Elizabeth Davenport, finds herself with a jumble of disparate, fading memories within the age of artificial intelligence. She encounters a handsome, new companion, played by Jon Bouvier, who is technologically programmed to feed the story of her life back to her.
In this “richly spare, wondrous new play,” Harrison explores the mysteries of human identity and the limits, if any, of what technology can replace.
Lee senior theatre major Caleb Siler will direct the play.
“This is a very new play so it's appropriate that it be directed by a new, up and coming director,” said Dan Buck, associate professor of theatre. “Caleb is an outstanding artist and we knew he would do something special with this fascinating play.”
Mr. Siler’s age, which contributes to his knowledge of modern technology, benefited him in the directing of the play.
“Directing ‘Marjorie Prime’ has been a privilege,” said Mr. Siler. “It was nice to come into this project as a young person whose life is surrounded by technology. Someone older may have approached the play with a completely different perspective, and that alone makes the play that much more intriguing and important to me.”
Tickets for the production will be available at the box office in the Communication Arts Building Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m., and one hour before curtain time. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children and seniors.
Lee Theatre recommends viewing “Marjorie Prime” for ages 12 and up. The faculty also request that no infants be present in the audience during the performances.
For more information, visit www.leeuniversity.edu/theatre or email theatre@leeuniversity.edu. Fans are encouraged to follow Lee University Theatre on Facebook.