The coming of a new year often inspires us to think of our past: where we’ve been, who we loved, and what we want to remember. Those themes are all explored in Marjorie Prime, the latest production of The Colonial Players in downtown Annapolis. Directed by Edd Miller, and written by Jordan Harrison, the show is the fourth in the theater’s Diamond Anniversary season, marking 75 years of local theater.
Marjorie Prime is set in 2063, at the home of Tess (Kate Wheeler) and her husband Jon (Ben Carr), where they have been caring for Tess’s 85 year-old mom, Marjorie (Jeanne Louise), who has dementia. When the play opens, we see Marjorie talking to Walter Prime (Dylan Roche), a younger, AI version of her late husband Walter, technology intended to comfort those still here. Tess is slightly uncomfortable with this replica of her father who stands around and watches the family’s movements and conversations. This turns out to be necessary, however, because as attentive as Walter Prime is, he can’t generate any personal information on his own. His recounting of loving memories that “he” and Marjorie hold are based on what he’s been told by other people. The thing is: different people recall different things. This leads to an exploration of family and the difference between what we remember and what we WANT to remember. In the show program, director Edd Miller says that it’s wrong to call this a play about Artificial Intelligence. He says, “It’s about memories, relationships, and communication. … AI is the window from which the audience is allowed to visually eavesdrop”.
I saw Marjorie Prime on its opening night, and I definitely felt as if I was invited into the characters’ very personal moments in ways that evoked my own thoughts on what I hold dear and what would comfort me towards the end of my life. That speaks to the power of this production. It was well-acted, with each of the ensemble giving nuanced and thoughtful performances. Miller uses the theater-in-the-round setting to create an intimate mood that really serves the script well. I highly recommend this production of Marjorie Prime, and I can promise it will prompt some interesting discussions and thoughts for you.
Marjorie Prime by Jordan Harrison
The Colonial Players
January 12-February 3, 2024
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