In an imagined future where everyone lives alone in identical, underground cells, people enjoy a seemingly blissful life – with all their needs provided by a multi-functional, omnipresent machine. Inhabitants have abandoned public gathering and physical touch in favor communicating with each other via The Machine’s convenient video interface system. When Vashti’s son Kuno calls from his cell on the other side of the world, Vashti’s life is turned upside-down when Kuno asks to meet in person to tell her something, “not through The Machine.” Through a combination of live acting, puppetry and video projections, this production uses expressive theatricality to vividly bring Forster’s futuristic allegory to life on stage.
