What I liked
Aria and Margaret’s performances are more than complementary, but rather collaborative. Both singers feed off each other’s voices in a way that feels like they are discovering the music in real time. Vocally beautiful and haunting. Aidan Moravec’s accompaniment was perfectly sparce and elegant.
What I didn't like
The electronic music overpowered the singers, particularly in their lower registers. I was in the front row and had trouble hearing them. The added seats constricted the movement of the players, and I was worried that they were going to get tangled in the cables from the piano and speakers.
My overall impression
One could describe If Not Numbers is an avant-garde operetta about the potential perils of excessive reliance on AI. For me, at its core, it is more of an unrequited love tone poem from someone who must end a relationship but cannot shake the influence that particular love has on her life. Beautifully performed and sung by Aria Gittelson and Margaret McGlynn, this show lingers in your brain. You’ll keep trying to work through your feelings for days. If you like your theatre to challenge you, If Not Numbers is where you should spend an evening.
