Philadelphia Weekly

ARTS AND CULTURE

30-Second Reviews: Pissed Jeans, Foals, "Community," Robot-Human Theater and More

By PW Staff

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Feb. 20, 2013

Robot-Human Theater 
Sat., Feb. 16, Christ Church. livearts-fringe.org  
Overall vibe: A collaboration between Japan’s acclaimed Seinendan Theater Company and Osaka University’s Intelligent Robotics Laboratory, this first-ever, full-scale robot-human theater production can really only be described as mind-blowing.  
Most memorable moment: For most, it was likely the point during each performance when they forgot that robots don’t actually have souls, and preceded to feel human emotions for them anyway.  
Scene stealer: The robots, duh. Although, truly blurring the line between man and machine, one couldn’t help but be particularly in awe with Geminoid F, a remarkably lifelike android that comforts a girl suffering from a fatal illness in the opening piece, Sayonara. (Nicole Finkbiner)  

ON THE PAGE

Days That I’ll Remember: Spending Time  with John Lennon and Yoko Ono 
By Jonathan Cott (Doubleday) 
In summary: The last years of Lennon’s life spent with lover and partner Ono are recalled in numerous interviews and conversations collected by Rolling Stone contributor Jonathan Cott.  
Akin to: Realizing how childish it was to hate Ono for breaking up the Beatles after hearing facets of the pair’s story never before revealed.  
Author fun fact: On Dec. 5, 1980, Cott questioned Lennon and Ono about their Double Fantasy album, making him the last person to interview the late, great Beatle before his untimely death three days later. (Lindsay Kenney)