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Review of ‘The Antiquities’: 12 Exhibits Showcasing Relics from Late Human Life


In 1816, Mary Shelley tells a scary story by a campfire, foretelling a future where mankind is replaced by technology. Fast forward to 2240, where post-human beings reflect on the downfall of humanity as merely a blip in the timeline of evolution. Jordan Harrison’s play “The Antiquities” explores this concept, mapping the Via Technologica from glory to demise. The play showcases 12 exhibits, demonstrating how inventions overtook natural intelligence, leading to the destruction of mankind.

The scenes, spanning from 1816 to 2076, explore the evolution of technology and its impact on human life, with some moments beautifully drawn while others feel like filler. Characters are fleeting, as soon as the audience cares about them, they are snuffed out, highlighting the theme of mortality on personal and geological scales. The play’s logic is more poetic than narrative, with recurring ideas and images connecting across time.

As the timeline seemingly reaches its end, a special exhibit offers a humorous perspective on how future beings misinterpret human technology. The play, directed by David Cromer, expertly balances minimalism and restraint in its design and performances. While the play may strain to justify itself in its final third, it ultimately serves as a morality pageant, exploring the natural desire for survival and meaning in contrast with the hubris that may lead to extinction.

“The Antiquities” is a thought-provoking exploration of mankind’s place in the evolution of technology, questioning the value of human existence in the face of technological advancement. Through a series of interconnected scenes and themes, the play challenges audiences to consider the consequences of progress and the fragility of humanity in the grand scheme of evolution.

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