A literary theatre troupe, Word for Word, is paying tribute to renowned science-fiction authors Ray Bradbury and Kurt Vonnegut in their production ‘Absolutely Science Fiction!’ at Z Space in San Francisco.
Classic Works
The troupe will be performing ‘The Veldt,’ Bradbury’s 1950 short story about parents who let their automated home care for their child, and ‘The Big Space Fuck,’ Vonnegut’s 1972 satire about rockets carrying human DNA and children suing their parents.
According to Word for Word member and show director Delia MacDougall, both authors’ works have frightening parallels to modern headlines. MacDougall notes that Bradbury and Vonnegut would likely have preferred the term ‘speculative fiction’ to describe their works.
MacDougall was struck by the gallows humor in Vonnegut’s words and their pertinence to the current moment, particularly with regards to the rush towards an AI future and its potential consequences.
Production Details
The director opted for an intentionally anachronistic look for ‘The Veldt,’ which portrays advanced, ‘retro-futuristic’ tech. The set designer, Kate Boyd, decided to emphasize a sensibility of the past without nostalgia.
The production runs through July 19 at Z Space, with tickets ranging from $15 to $75.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
