Science Fiction Double Feature at Copious

The term ‘double feature’ in the title of this show refers to the two main performers, L. Nicol Cabe and Aaron J. Shay, who shared one half of the show each -- and shared the ability to charm and engage me with their storytelling. 

Twice, Cabe invites someone from the audience to play her part – reading off of 5X7 index cards -- in a conversation with an internet chat bot.  If theater is about empathy and seeing the world from someone else’s perspective, then this is successful theater because it literally happens in those moments. 

Cabe’s half of the show contains some deep insights about artificial intelligence.  Sharing them here almost seems like it should require a spoiler alert but at one point she uses an extended Pygmalion analogy that’s amazing for the way it weaves art and science and myth into one inseparable ball. In other parts there is real menace as in the monologue where she portrays a sex robot telling her story of how she is abused over and over again by the men who she encounters.

After intermission singer, songwriter and storyteller Shay took over.  Shay has taken some of his existing material and written new songs to create a narrative for this show.  The idea is that he is a professor in the far future teaching an undergrad lab about a famous space explorer.  Once the prof puts on his special scientific hat, he can sort of electronically channel the thoughts of the explorer, which come through in song.

Shay is a delightful performer, playing both the banjo and the hardest-charging ukulele that I have ever heard.  In at least half, if not more of his songs he invites the audience to sing along with the chorus, to stomp and clap, and once even to do harmony.  And they do – we did!  Again, like Cabe, he was bringing people in to be of one heart and mind.

The connections we are looking for in space or on the computer are right in front of us, I guess, is the moral of the stories.  But that’s kind of glib so maybe see for yourself. 

Graphic taken from the Facebook event page.