You may think the word “robot” has been around forever, but the word was, in fact, coined during this play in 1921. The world has never been the same.
Rossum’s Universal Robots (R.U.R.), The End of Mankind by the Hand of Robots, was originally written in 1921 by Karel Čapek and quickly became a sensation, introducing the word “robot” into the world’s lexicon. “Robot” comes from the Czech, from robota meaning “forced labor.” That we now attribute this word to automatons is telling, and drives the play’s plot to its inevitable conclusion. The influence R.U.R. has had on pop culture is too massive to describe. However, if you look closely, you can find references to it in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Doctor Who, Batman: The Animated Series and The Outer Limits, to name but a few.
Dark but not without hope, and treading that fine line between intellectually engaging and viscerally thrilling, R.U.R. explores the concepts of sentience, human rights, wealth disparity and the pursuit of profits at any cost.
Join us July 24 through August 9 to discover a world not-so-far-away, where labor is so cheap that humankind atrophies into inaction and even procreation is no longer a viable pursuit.
R.U.R. runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm from Friday, July 24, through Sunday, August 9, at The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, in the Baird Center at 619 South Main Street in Gainesville. There will be a $5 preview on Thursday, July 23.
There is some mild “strong” language but should be appropriate for most ages (though this is NOT a children’s show).
Tickets are $15, general admission; $13 for veterans, military, seniors and students.
Purchase your tickets today using PayPal or your credit card (below). Tickets are also available at the door thirty minutes before showtime, cash only.
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