Exploring Humanity and AI: A Review of ‘We Are Your Robots’ at Polonsky Shakespeare Center

We Are Your Robots: A Unique Theatrical Experience

We Are Your Robots is a new performance at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center, featuring an AI-generated band. Playwright and songwriter Ethan Lipton leads a four-member musical group that blends humor and existential themes in a show lasting 80 minutes.

The production explores human and robot interactions through quirky melodies and thoughtful musings. The show begins with the band singing the opening number “Robots,” raising broad questions about desires and fears related to technology.

Audience engagement is encouraged when Ethan invites viewers to keep cellphones on, humorously suggesting their data will be used during the performance. Comedic phrases appear on a large screen, reflecting modern anxieties. Yet, the show conveys a sobering message: we might be facing tough times.

Lipton incorporates philosophical references, including thoughts from Noam Chomsky. The audience experiences a mix of lively songs, such as “I Am a Machine,” and experimental tracks like “Where Are You Now.” The latter, inspired by whale songs, suggests that connection among humans is essential.

Overall, We Are Your Robots challenges perceptions of technology through a blend of music, humor, and philosophical inquiry, encouraging reflection on human needs in a changing world.