BWW Preview: TWO POINT OH Examines Humanity vs Virtual Intelligence

Virtual and artificial intelligence. It's a concept that hovers just on the brink of discovery, a technological advancement somewhere on the timeline between current science and science fiction. This month, Lompoc Civic Theatre explores this concept in their production of Jeffrey Jackson's provocative drama, Two Point Oh.

Two Point Oh refers to the "second coming" of the play's mysterious software engineer, Elliot Leeds (Christopher Ford). Leeds, a technology mogul often in the news for his accomplishments in the hi-tech business world, is the subject of more drastic headlines when his private jet disappears over the Pacific. Leeds' widow, Melanie (Sarah Raines), is stricken with grief until she makes a glorious and startling discovery: Leeds version of immortality, which exists in the form of an advanced computerized intelligence system featuring an almost complete virtual re-creation of her husband.

While the virtual Leeds only exists as a vision on a screen, the program he devised, "Elliot 2.0," has the memories and intellectual capacity of the deceased programmer. Generated by coding thousands of hours of his recorded speech, and made recognizable with a digitally re-created face and body, it seems that with "Elliot 2.0," Leeds has cheated death. Yet questions of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and their true representation of humanity are raised through the despondent Melanie, who wants to believe this miracle of digital resurrection and immortality is possible.

The audience will only ever see Ford on a screen rather than in person on stage, adding to the perception of his virtual existence; but his humanity can't be ignored. Witty and poignant, Two Point Oh brings the not-so-distant future to the Lompoc Civic Theatre Stage.

Lompoc Civic Theatre Presents:

Two Point Oh

Written by Jeffrey Jackson
Directed by Larry McLellan

@Stone Pine Hall, 210 South H Street, Lompoc
February 19th-March 6th

Featuring Christopher Ford, Sarah Raines, Matt Wilson, Rose Torres, and Paul Thornton

Shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Presale tickets for $12 will be available at ticket outlets: Alfie's Fish 'n' Chips, P.J.'s Deli, and the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce. Tickets at the door will be $15.