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October 21, 2005
Section: Local
Edition: Final
Page: B2

Neil Novelli, Contributing Writer

Over the past few seasons, Appleseed Productions has brought theatergoers a wealth of plays that were new or otherwise at the cutting edge of live performance. Appleseed continues its creative ways with the premiere of a new adaptation of a 20th-century classic, "R.U.R.," by Karel Capek.

It's gripping, straight-ahead drama sometimes funny, sometimes serious. Like Capek (CHAH-pek), author Lee Eric Shackleford lets the characters' lives revolve around central issues. Director William Edward White and a talented cast give the script a sharp mounting, with strong performances.

Over the past months, White and his creative team have worked in a back-and-forth collaboration with Shackleford. Both sides have contributed to revisions of the work, which is now called "Karel Capek's R.U.R."

R.U.R. stands for Rossum's Universal Robots, a fictional mega-corporation that runs the world by providing everyone with
robots. Writing in 1920, Capek who invented the term "robot" envisioned a time when the world's work would be done by machines. Push that a bit: Make the machines humanlike. Push it further: Let the "machines" be made of living tissue, which scientists have learned to create.

That's where questions arise about playing God. And maybe even more urgently, about what happens when the new beings, whatever they are, discover that they have the power of choice.

The script still needs work. For example, the last scene will be stronger when it's cut by about half.

White's set is among the best designs seen locally in community or professional theater. Four looming, angled shapes surround the acting space maybe like an upturned robot hand.

At the centeris a CEO's desk that seems like a high priest's altar. Maybe it's no coincidence that the big boss, Domin Paul Gundersen, in a powerful performance wears a blue shirt with a sort of clerical collar.

Victoria Barrett is Helena, who falls in love with Domin even though she has doubts about the whole enterprise. Andy Godwin is down-to-earth Alquist, the last man on Earth who likes manual labor.

The "robots" give wonderful performances: Binaifer Dabu (#195, who moves like a clockwork Chaplin); Lisa Coombs (Sulla, the perfect secretary with a perky smile that never, never quits); Scott Shaw (Primus, maybe the new Adam); Caroline Wright (Helenova, maybe the new Eve); Caitlyn McCrone (robot leader Callida); Josh Wright (sullen Radius); and Kim Farnett (Marius).

The R.U.R. executives are depicted in all their quirkiness: Fabry, a bit of an automaton (Bryan Allen Jones); Gall, a sweet-natured stutterer (Greg J. Hipius); the hedonist Hallemeier (Jon Wright); and Busman (John G. Seavers), devoted to the account books.

Shackleford will be at Saturday's performance and will take part in a conversation with the audience after the show.

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