The Limitations of Genetic Technology

Comments (0) By Paul Birchall Thursday, Nov 18 2010

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Former L.A. Weekly critic and playwright Luis Arturo Reyes’ darkly cerebral satire opens with a snazzy set of video mock-commercials touting the benefits of a megalithic corporation’s genetic engineering program, and concluding with the ironic motto, “Our product is people!” Set in the near future, the play posits a world in which genetic technology has allowed almost every dream to come true. The population now has the ability to be beautiful and perhaps immortal. Yet even as people have their livers swapped out after a brisk night’s boozing, and teenagers capriciously get themselves genetically implanted with elf ears and a tail to fit the fashion, more complicated issues are afoot. When, at a company party, a holographic image of eternally boyish corporate CEO York (Kyle Nudo) announces his suicide, the corporation is thrown into chaos. Reyes’ drama is unabashed science geek chic — intelligent, imaginative and full of wit — but the sometimes awkward technical jargon and dense, philosophy-filled exchanges take a long time to spark much emotional momentum. Midway through, though, comes the desire by the new company president (Jeffrey Wylie) and his marketing executive wife (Harmony Goodman) to create a young baby android. With the couple’s growing affection for a creature they at first consider a science experiment, the play reaches an incredibly moving tragedy. Director David Watkins Jr.’s intimate production occasionally suffers from energy lapses, but designer Steven Calcote’s videoscreen and chrome set quite effectively creates a futuristic mood. In his turn as the indefinably spooky, Peter Pan-like company CEO, Nudo engagingly balances scientific detachment with childlike innocence. Sarah Lilly, as his world-weary wife, offers a splendidly nuanced turn that’s equally mischievous and sad. Wylie and Goodman, as the corporate parents “testing” the cloned baby, are appealing as their characters nicely evolve from cold businesspeople into a loving dad and mom. Theatre of NOTE, 1517 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Hlywd.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 4 p.m.; thru Dec. 12. brownpapertickets.com/event/131828
Fridays, Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 4 p.m. Starts: Nov. 12. Continues through Dec. 12, 2010