anthropology
by Lauren Gunderson

Off-West End

anthropology Book Cover — anthropology Cover

Highlights

Female

90 mins Present Day All Women Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle) Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Synopsis

Merril has been spending more time with her sister, Angie, but she isn't ready for anyone to know about it.

At least, not until Merril has decided that Angie is ready to see other people – but it is going to take a little more finessing, and definitely less fighting.

After Angie, without permission, arranges for Merril’s ex Raquel to come over, the truth comes out: Angie is an A.I. creation that Merril has developed to cope with her sister's death.

But as the virtual Angie begins to demand more presence in Merril and her mother’s lives, reality and consciousness blur, and new moral questions arise about the right, safe, and acceptable ways to grieve.

Press Reviews

"Up-to-the-minute, grappling with AI and its philosophical implications in a thoroughly engaging way…[It] engages with our tech-mediated lives and with speculative futures in a way theatre rarely does.” – The Standard (UK)“Gunderson prods and pokes around at the ethical implications but deliciously never settles for an answer. Instead she throws down the gauntlet whilst weaving together a cerebral thriller where each twist and turn tugs on the heart strings."
— Broadway World UK

"Fizzingly intelligent."
— The Times (UK)

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Angie younger sister, cheeky, brash, always a handful, sometimes a disaster, but people forgive her because when she is fun she is the most fun. Sunshine until she storms.	female	—	younger sister, cheeky, brash, always a handful, sometimes a disaster, but people forgive her because when she is fun she is the most fun. Sunshine until she storms.
Raquel Merril’s ex, confident, clear-headed, heart-driven. She is a crafter, a home cook, a good kisser, a bit of a worrier but all from an abundance of love.	female	—	Merril’s ex, confident, clear-headed, heart-driven. She is a crafter, a home cook, a good kisser, a bit of a worrier but all from an abundance of love.
Brin Merril and Angie’s estranged mom, recovering addict, penitent but still awash in confused grief, broken confidence and neediness. Never been a good mom to her girls, but now realizing how much she has lost in losing them. Clingy and desperate to reconnect.	female	—	Merril and Angie’s estranged mom, recovering addict, penitent but still awash in confused grief, broken confidence and neediness. Never been a good mom to her girls, but now realizing how much she has lost in losing them. Clingy and desperate to reconnect.
Merril older sister, brainy coder and AI expert, driven, nothing in her life is tidy except her immaculate home office, battling tremendous grief and channeling it into tech. Queer, brilliant, hopeful.	female	—	older sister, brainy coder and AI expert, driven, nothing in her life is tidy except her immaculate home office, battling tremendous grief and channeling it into tech. Queer, brilliant, hopeful.