If you could bring someone you love back with artificial intelligence, would that ever suffice for the loneliness and grief that you feel?

That question lingers long after Anthropology ends, and honestly, it’s what makes this production hit harder than expected. Staged by Barefoot Theatre Collaborative as the Asian premiere of ‘anthropology’, this local take on Lauren Gunderson’s work feels eerily timely. In a world where AI is no longer distant or hypothetical, the play doesn’t just explore technology—it confronts how deeply it’s starting to shape the way we love, connect, and grieve.

At its core, the story follows Merril, a brilliant AI programmer who recreates her sister Angie through technology after losing her, turning memory into something interactive, almost alive. What begins as a coping mechanism slowly spirals into something more complicated, raising uncomfortable questions about dependence, denial, and the quiet ways we avoid moving forward and accepting the truth of loss. The narrative is straightforward and easy to follow, but it builds with intention, leading to a twist that feels both surprising and earned. It doesn’t try too hard; it simply trusts the weight of its ideas.

What makes the play so effective is how it grounds something as complex as artificial intelligence in something deeply human. It shows how AI can offer comfort, even healing, but also how too much reliance on it can distort relationships and blur reality. There’s this quiet tension throughout: when does remembering become replacing? When does coping become avoidance?

It crushed my heart every time I heard Merril say “Let me refine the prompt for you,”, trying so hard to replicate and refine her sister the way she wants to be talked to and treated.

The all-female cast brings that tension to life with sincerity and nuance. Jenny Jamora anchors the show as Merril with a performance that feels both controlled and quietly unraveling, while Maronne Cruz’s Angie, especially in her AI form, creates a compelling contrast that adds layers to the story. Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante, who takes the role of Merril’s ex Raquel brings warmth and relatability that grounds the more technical aspects of the narrative, and Jackie Lou Blanco who plays as Merril and Angie’s estranged mother adds a quiet emotional gravity that lingers even in stillness.

One of the highlights is the dynamic between Merril and Angie. Their banter feels natural, playful, and very “sisterhood-coded”, the kind of exchanges that make you laugh without trying too hard. It adds lightness to the play, making the heavier moments land even deeper. Because when the humor fades, what remains feels real.

Under the direction of Caisa Borromeo, the staging feels intentional and restrained, allowing the performances to take center stage. Sarah Facuri’s minimalist yet effective set design plays a crucial role in shaping the world of the play. It creates a space that feels both intimate and clinical, almost like a home caught in the middle of a system. It visually reinforces the tension between human emotion and artificial construction, making the environment feel just as conflicted as the characters themselves.

The technical elements further elevate the experience. Video design by CueCraft and Steven Tansiongco seamlessly integrates projections that enhance the AI-driven narrative without overwhelming it. Lighting design by D Cortezano is simple yet striking, sharpening emotional beats and transitions, while Arvy Dimaculangan’s sound design delivers moments that genuinely give you goosebumps. And then there are the pauses, the deliberate silences that cut through all the dialogue. In a play filled with conversation, those quiet moments feel the heaviest.

anthropology’s strength is on its strong performances, interesting storyline, a well-paced buildup, and a story that resonates long after the final scene. It raises questions we don’t always want to answer: how far would we go to hold on to someone? And at what point does holding on start to cost us more than letting go?

As a local staging of an international work, it already resonates in powerful ways, but it also makes you wonder how even more impactful it could be with a few added Filipino elements or touches of humor. The themes are universal, but small cultural details could bring the story even closer to home.

Because in the end, no matter how advanced technology becomes, ‘anthropology ‘reminds us of something deeply human: no one can ever be remade—only remembered, and eventually, released.

Watch ‘anthropology’ as it is down to its LAST 5 SHOWS 🤖🫀
Anthropology by Lauren Gunderson closes on March 29 at the Doreen Black Box in Areté, and this is your final chance to catch it live.

If you’ve been meaning to watch, get your tickets here: bit.ly/anthropologytickets

About the Author

Apple Gamboa is the Life Editor of SubSelfie.com.

She is also the Senior Executive for Corporate Communications for Canon Philippines.