Richmond Hill Players current production of the almost 2015 Pulitzer Prize winning script, Marjorie Prime, by Jordan Harrison, has been described as “a heart-achingly beautiful rumination on aging and artificial intelligence, memory and mortality, love and legacy.”
Beautifully directed by Jennifer Kingry, she summarizes the story as: “Set in an American home in the not-too-distant future; the action begins in 2062. Eighty-five-year-old Marjorie, who is experiencing memory decline, lives with her adult daughter, Tess, and son-in-law, Jon. A service called Senior Serenity provides artificially-intelligent holographic representations of deceased loved ones, allowing Marjorie to hold face-to-face conversations with a much younger version of her late husband, Walter.
Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic these days as our society tries to suss out just how AI will impact the future making this script highly relevant and timely.
What sets this script apart is how authentic and deeply relatable it is. Who among us has not experienced ourselves, or knows someone, who is a caretaker of an aging parent with or without dementia? And while this is a serious topic it is handled sensitively while still being able to find some humor. You will have some amused chuckles along the way.
I’m purposely omitting a more detailed description of the action because I don’t want to diminish the impact of the content that is tightly and profoundly delivered by a highly talented cast. Although it only runs about 80 minutes it packs eons of powerful story telling. If you are in the metro Quad Cities this show is well worth the short drive to Geneseo. Believe me, you will want that bit of a drive home to process and discuss this provocative topic.
In the title role of Marjorie is JaLayne Riewerts who delivers a feisty, fun, and genuine portrayal of an elderly woman of somewhat diminished capacity. Eric Friedman as Walter is totally engaging with a well-nuanced portrayal of an AI humanoid. The character of Tess has a complicated past with her mother and Lorrie Lord’s portrayal as the conflicted daughter who struggles to be dutiful is well-balanced and sympathetic. Kevin Babbit, who happens to hold a PhD in theatre, performs a Broadway-worthy Jon who is more understanding and sympathetic toward Marjorie than Tess and his closing scene is absolutely heart-wrenching. As phenomenal as that was, the final scene of the show will shadow you all the way home.
Also impressive is the subtlety with which Kingry handles the two-plus year’s passage of time by simply rearranging the furniture making for efficient scene changes and laudable pacing.
Although Harrison didn’t win the Pulitzer, I can only surmise that there must have been some mighty stiff competition that year.
One more thing, if you are in metro QC, when I attended the show on Thursday, Route 6 was closed for construction so you will want to take Interstate 80 out to Geneseo instead.
Marjorie Prime continues at Richmond Hill Players Barn Theatre in Geneseo, Thursday through Saturday, August 21 through 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 24 at 3:00 p.m.
I’m Chris Hicks…break a leg.