A Christmas Karel Capek
A wacky and funny 90 minutes Christmas production at Bats Theatre.
The Bacchanals produce a fast moving, self deprecating show which is a combination of A Christmas Carol and Dr Who.
It starts with Bri and David playing themselves, having a lonely meal. Bri just wants a fridge for Christmas, or maybe even David. David though wants something else – a robot. He designs one, and calls it Bri. How does human Bri and robot Bri get on? What happens when human Bri also builds a robot?
As a huge fan of Isaac Asimov, I was pleased they referenced his three (or four) laws of robotics, namely:
- A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
- A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
- A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.
Bri alters the first one though to be “A robot may not injure a human being, unless they are a dick“. Is this significant?
Eventually the two main robots get joined by a cast of many, including C3P0 and a Dalek. Also Father Christmas appears.
There’s lot of in jokes – at themselves, at Circa, at Ray Henwood, at Theateview. They break the fourth wall continually, and engage the audience.
For most of the show you wonder if it is a series of gags, but in the final scenes they bring it together well with a nice moral message.
I found it a great way to unwind at the end of a working week. Recommended for anyone who likes youthful humour and robots.
Rating: ****