Can artificial intelligence contain emotional intelligence, or engender it?
Certainly Thomas Eccleshare’s play INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECT ASSEMBLY asserts that possibility. And Clock & Spiel’s production, directed by Hailey McQueen builds on that assertion.
In their starkly white monochrome garage, suburban couple, Hari and Max, are unpacking a flat pack containing the pieces, bibs and bobs, screws and pins, limbs and loins, of an android, a cheap replicant and replacement for their dear departed disappointment of a son, Nick.
There’s frustration and confusion as to the correct assembly, acerbated by missing parts and a remote control that’s prone to erratic fine tuning. Anatomically a facsimile of Nick, this new iteration goes by the name of Jän, the manufacturer’s imprimatur, and Max and Hari now have the task of programming, socialising, and reassembling the machine in the image of a future they lost.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECT ASSEMBLY explores the complexities of grief, parental pressure and unmet expectations. The narrative, presented in vignettes positioned between past and present, tells the parallel stories of the parents relationship with their organic son, Nick, and the digital doppelganger, Jän.
The pressure is just not parental, of course; there’s the pressure of children to please, and there’s a guilt edge to Nick’s failure to do so. His mirror image robot also aspires to please but programming is not perfect, short circuits do happen, whether in reality or virtual reality.
Ben Chapple is excellent as Jän/Nick, the difference in characters finely defined. The surly, conflicted drug afflicted Nick is in thrilling contrast to the quick switch delivery of the robot, Jän, as he is fine tuned from unfiltered, unfettered response to more refined, controlled and harnessed interaction to often hilarious result.
Jane Wallace and Nick Curnow are splendid as Max and Hari, the parents who seek a second chance at parenthood, with a misguided view that perfection can be prefabricated.
Strong support by David Allsopp and Jacki Mison as Max and Hari’s friends, Paul and Laurie and Kyra Belford-Thomas as their daughter, Amy, the boastful ostensibly perfect, happy family.
Jacob Parr’s set design of monochromatic home – kitchen, dining, living and garage – splendidly illustrates the homogeneity Max and Hari conform to.
Victor Kalka’s lighting design flickers between warm and cosy and outright stark, with brilliant use of over head and floor based fluros.
Costume and props by Lulu Ross are suitably beige and Bunnings.
Poignant and timely, INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECT ASSEMBLY provides an Allen key to discussion about parental and societal aspiration and the integration of artificial intelligence with emotional experience.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECT ASSEMBLY plays Flightpath Theatre till July 5.
photo credit Patrick Phillips
