What I liked
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What I didn't like
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My overall impression
Considering I just read a headline about sex robots becoming common aspects of life in less than 10 years, this play seems especially on-topic. Pete (Devin Crittenden, who writes and stars) purchases the latest sex robot from Japan and reprograms her (the robot identifies as a she) to love him. Crittenden is convincing as Pete: heartbroken, nerdy, and very impressed by his own invention. We see his hubris begin to take hold as he continues tweaking Exa, his robotic girlfriend whose sole purpose is to love him unconditionally. Morgan Matthews as the robot Exa is a marvel in this show — her voice and mannerisms never give way to human emotions, and her eyes stay mechanical as she blinks and processes the information around her all while staying focused on Pete and fulfilling his every need.
Overall this is a tightly written script that allows for dynamic development of Pete’s character in just 70 minutes. Director Nick Cimiluca keeps the pace up by using projections and loud electronic dance music to help give the transitions life. Not only is this a funny and charming play, it’s one that touches on deeper issues of love and morality. As robots and AI become more ubiquitous, this story may become even more relevant. Can The Amitycode serve as a cautionary tale? Perhaps. But knowing the human condition, we’ll probably just wipe clean and reboot our systems over and over again.
