What I liked
I really enjoyed the overall story concept for the play, and wanted to learn more about what a digital afterlife is like to experience.
What I didn't like
This is a personal preference, but as a general rule, I would rather not have/need to have my phone out during live events. While the concept of a digital avatar for Pluto is intriguing, it meant that most of my focus was on my phone rather than the full stage/story at large. A low-tech alternative for Pluto’s avatar could have possibly been achieved with the Pepper’s Ghost illusion, especially since there is already a real actor piloting the avatar offstage.
I also did not realize until after I saw the show how much AI was used in the production process. If that information existed on the show’s Fringe page at the time I got my ticket, then that’s on me for not reading the description thoroughly.
My overall impression
ROOT (Running Out Of Time) is an ambitious experiment in blending live performance with augmented reality. The show is strongest when the focus remains on Pluto’s choice to ascend into a digital existence.
