Funny, silly but toothless comedy about AI
Brainrot is a comedy hoping to satirise the attention economy and humanity ever growing dependence on algorithms, AI and “smart” technology.
Following a crew of astronauts in the not so distant future on a journey into deep space to explore, we find a rag tag group of (mostly) under qualified people trying to find some sanity and meaning both in their isolated mission and their own psyche. Littered with absurd humour, an AI that placates their most base desires, it’s a fun show with lofty goals of being more than a simple laugh.
The production and costuming fits the theme well, all donning white overalls modified to look like space costumes. The rear of the stage has a strange metal monolith where the aforementioned AI Oswald lives, always present in a haunting manner. This design is sleek and effective but the lipstick doesn’t hide a mediocre script.
As the AI helps and assists people it slowly becomes more depended upon on by everyone, and in turn more of people’s autonomy is left up to the algorithm. This dependence results in some kind boggling scene changes as the crew loses touch with reality but the neurotic AI is very one note. Between this and a tragic death that happens off stage that serves to motivate the crews disengagement from the AI, there’s a lack of depth to the story and characters, although depth is often hinted at.
It has the comedic beats of a sketch show at time, fun, absurd, very contemporary with little pop culture gags littered through out. The identity feels a bit confused which hurts the consistently fairly amusing jokes. The power of friendship and tragedy saves them in the end but it’s difficult to feel a weight of death meaning this much when it happens off screen in a show that was best when it didn’t take it too seriously and focused on it’s jokes.
Brainrot ran at the Edinburgh Fringe but is now complete. https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/brainrot