Original Coverage & Source Attribution: lsureveille.com
When an author adds science fiction into their story, it’s not often that it becomes reality in less than a decade. “Marjorie Prime,” a Pulitzer Prize finalist play written by Jordan Harrison about artificial intelligence, relationships and memories, is LSU Theatre’s newest production.
Produced through the Lab Season program, “Marjorie Prime” is directed by senior LSU theater performance major Hunter Sparicino.
“Marjorie Prime” is about a family’s grief and the use of AI in the everyday lives of the characters — especially that of Marjorie, who uses an AI companion to feel more connected to her husband who has passed.
“The premise that we find these characters in is a very heavy one, but honestly, with the way technology is going, a very real one. It’s a very real scenario that we could be seeing in the not-so-distant future,” said Charlie Robards, who plays Walter, the AI companion.
Robards is a freshman theater performance major. Getting such a central role in a show in the first semester of college can be a rare occurance, and for Robards, the audition process was nerve-racking.
His nerves were shaken off when the cast list came out, which Robards describes as an invigorating experience.
Robards, despite having come from a small high school theater program, is adjusting well to the much larger program of the LSU School of Theatre & Film.
It’s not a very common occurrence that one gets to perform in a piece that predicts the future as that event plays out.
“I don’t want to give off the impression that I am troubled by it; the show does not try to present this as an inherently bad thing,” Robards said “It just tries to get you to think about it. After having thought about it for a while, although it is very eerie, I still want to say that I still feel for these characters.”
Treazure Jackson is a senior theater performance major who she plays Tess, Majorie’s daughter. It is her first time playing the lead in an LSU Show.
“I’m of course very grateful for this opportunity,” Jackson said. “I feel like all the training and all the lessons that I’ve been taught at LSU have prepared before this moment.”
Working on “Marjorie Prime” has been validating for Jackson, giving her confidence in herself and letting her know she had been prepared well.
Though working on projects with friends can create unique challenges, Jackson feels that it benefitted the cast.
“Since we’re all students, there is some comfort, it makes the space more comfortable and easygoing,” said Jackson.
To Jackson, the themes of the play feel resonant of modern AI discussions.
“I don’t want to say that it’s uncanny, but the timing is absolutely perfect. And I feel like I connect with my character so much because me as a person in real life — I don’t like artificial intelligence,” said Jackson
“Marjorie Prime” opens on Tuesday and runs until Sunday. The LSU School of Theatre & Film website has links to the tickets and more information of the rest of the shows coming this season.
“For anyone coming to see Marjorie Prime, they’re going to leave the experience with a new outlook on family relationships and just life in general,” Jackson said. “It should be an eye-opening experience and I’m really excited for everyone to come see.”
