ABSTRACT
The original 1951 TDTESS had a tight plot with considerable action, appealing characters, and a meaningful message for that Cold War era—namely, be very careful with nuclear weapons. Theater, too, can provide rich experiences that do not depend on stunning visuals. A filmgoer watching a robot on screen, especially one generated by computer as used in computer-generated imagery (CGI), has a different experience that lacks the living comparison to humanity. A new RoboCop film came in 2013, and other robot films will keep coming. Even with CGI, some will tell affecting human stories or raise intriguing questions. After Gizmo, perhaps playwrights will further treat artificial beings in the form of robots, or cloned people, or people modified by genetic, mechanical, or digital means. Theater does not reach millions as film does, but in its thoughtful and provocative way, it can help people understand what technology is doing for people and to people.
