A bold question hangs over Broadway: What are the reviews saying about Marjorie Prime? The answer is in flux, with a chorus of critics weighing in as the production kicks off its Broadway run.
Jordan Harrison’s play, a Pulitzer finalist, arrives at the Helen Hayes Theatre with a high-profile cast: Academy Award nominee June Squibb stars in the title role alongside Tony winners Danny Burstein and Cynthia Nixon, with Christopher Lowell in the ensemble. The company also features understudies Mike Shapiro, Collin Kelly-Sordelet, Kate Hampton, and Barbara Kingsley, with casting by Daniel Swee.
Marjorie Prime centers on a woman who employs a computer holographic system to resurrect AI versions of the deceased. The piece originally premiered at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles in 2014, later moved to Off-Broadway’s Playwrights Horizons in 2015, and was recognized as a Pulitzer finalist in 2015. A screen adaptation followed in 2017, featuring its original star Lois Smith.
Previews began on November 20, and the Broadway opening occurred on December 8. The industry and press are filing reviews from a range of outlets, including 1 Minute Critic, CitiTour, Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, New York Daily News, New York Post, New York Stage Review, New York Theater, New York Theatre Guide, The New York Times, TheaterMania, Theatrely, TimeOut, and The Wrap. Some pieces may require a free account or subscription to access.
For those curious about the creative team behind the production, Anne Kauffman returns to direct the Broadway bow. The design team features scenic design by Lee Jellinek, costume design by Márion Talán de la Rosa, lighting by Ben Stanton, and sound and original music by Daniel Kluger.
A gallery of photos from Marjorie Prime on Broadway is also available for fans and prospective attendees.
Would the discussion around Marjorie Prime change if the holographic concept were set in a different era or explored with alternative technologies? How do personal memories and artificial intelligence intersect on stage, and where should the line be drawn between empathy and simulation? Share your thoughts in the comments.”
