Foothill Theatre Arts will stage the West Coast premiere of the play “R.U.R.,” which stands for “Rossum’s Universal Robots,” Nov. 7-23 in Los Altos Hills.
The production is largely based on the 1921 play by Karel Čapek about the creation, evolution and eventual rebellion of robots. The original version follows the journey of the titular Harry Rossum, heir to a factory producing robot laborers, who falls in love with Helena, the president’s daughter who advocates for robot ethics.
Foothill’s production, however, is an adaptation of Bo List’s version. Director Bruce McLeod said it retains the same plot points as the original play while providing a contemporary twist: AI takes the place of robots.
“I have a history of digging up different adaptations of plays,” McLeod said. “I’m very drawn to parallels in society between the 1920s and ’30s and 2020s, so I think a lot of what we’re going through now is what the world was going through in that era.”
Supporting actor Christopher Arnold, who works as a developer in the tech industry, said the new version offers a satirical perspective while commenting on the emergence of generative AI.
“The whole play is a revisiting of the fear of robots taking over the way of life in the industrial age,” Arnold said. “McLeod is producing this because the sentiment in Silicon Valley is once again rising up about people being afraid AI is going to take over a major position in society and our daily work lives.”
Within the dialogue, McLeod said the modern comedic references juxtapose the serious topic and provide greater engagement for this rendition.
“Even though it’s still set in the 1920s and we will have period-style costumes, the language is much more modern,” McLeod said. “There are all sorts of references the audience is going to appreciate and connect to, and that makes the main issue, what it means to be a human, more relevant.”
Lead actor Dan Cardenas, who plays Rossum, said he is accustomed to playing supporting roles and that taking on the spotlight demands more consistent attention and energy from him throughout the play.
“Supporting or side characters usually have little spurts and moments here and there, and it’s very easy to hone down on those small moments,” Cardenas said. “As a lead, you’ve got to be present in the entirety of the show.”
While preparing for the role, Cardenas said he has found himself connecting with and learning from Rossum’s personality.
“I’m also a little awkward, so seeing this awkwardness in him is a sort of out-of-body experience, being like, ‘Oh, that’s how you’re going to go about it. Maybe I can learn from this in my own life, maybe a goal about conversations or (seeing) new friendships in a different manner,’” Cardenas said.
Cardenas added that the unique characters, relevant plot and engaging style of “R.U.R.” should resonate with audiences.
“There’s a bit of everything in the show for everyone,” Candenas said. “Whether you’re awkward or you’re in the tech world, you would enjoy this (as) a human being.”
“R.U.R.” will premiere at 8 p.m. Nov. 7, with subsequent showtimes set for 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and 2 p.m. Sundays in the Lohman Theatre at Foothill College, 12345 S. El Monte Ave. Tickets are $15-$28.
For tickets and more information, visit tinyurl.com/yzf3bcx4.
