A compelling concept, warning viewers about the introduction of AI that could expose your innermost secrets.
I [Redacted] You focuses on themes of connection, perception, honesty and trust. The presenter duo (Cassia Rose and Liv Hopkins) introduce the 3rd player in their pitch to potential investors, “O”. “O” is a new AI tool at connex, designed to help humans potentially assist us in discovering more about ourselves or each other.
The two presenters created an immersive experience for audience members as we were welcomed into their conference-like setup to pitch “O”. Audience interaction was also embraced with the presenters asking how we heard about the product and who referred us to come and invest.
They both showed an impressive range of their acting and movement skills, alongside Cassia’s innovative direction and writing. The use of lighting and sound also played a key role in world-building for the audience, using warm hues for comforting scenes and harsh spotlights for “O”‘s more interrogative side.
The play explored the functions of “O” (and a mysterious backstory of secrets, and a falling out) using mixed media with the AI as a voiceover and projection on the back curtain. This was then made even more interesting when introducing movement, comedically interacting with the presentation to “potential clients” and interaction of AI as it creeps in through the cracks in the presenters’ pasts. The AI itself is abnormal, so the movement married well with this idea of abnormality, whilst exploring the meaning of “truth” to humans and AI.
There was a through-line of undiscovered truth hidden in diaries and unsent text messages between the two as we are given insight into “the day everything changed”. However, audience members were left with a sense of loose ends – the story isn’t revealed as to why the two fell out, but is foreshadowed at the start with tension over how to start the presentation.
I loved the concept, but invite them to go into more detail to reveal just a bit more to the audience of the backstory of the characters to avoid any confusion, even potentially having the AI as a chip implanted to secure the idea of a warped reality that “O” can create.
That being said, myself and other audience members thoroughly enjoyed the comedic timing, interaction with lighting choices and overall message with beautiful language of “the truth about truth”. The title ,upon reflection of the piece, reveals a foreshadowed element of “O” and its power since the characters wrestle with truthful communication, and “[redacted]” encapsulates how “O” won’t allow their emotional voices to be heard, even in the title of the play.