If you’re a fan of the hit Netflix series Black Mirror, Barefoot Theatre Collaborative’s (BTC) production of anthropology should be at the top of your must-watch theatre productions.
Photo / CJ Ochoa via Barefoot Theatre Collaborative
Written by Lauren Gunderson, one of America’s most-produced contemporary playwrights, anthropology is a gripping psychological thriller that merges the sharp edge of sci-fi with the deep ache of family grief. It tells the story of Merril, an artificial intelligence (AI) programmer who, unable to accept the disappearance and death of her sister Angie, uses her skills to bring her back as an AI model. What begins as a coping mechanism quickly spirals into a complex web of obsession, blurring the dangerous line between a comforting memory and a digital ghost.
This production explores the intersection of high-tech ethics and the timeless vulnerability of the human heart. This junction is what makes anthropology such a compelling watch: it uses science to tell a story that’s completely human.
The cast is led by Jenny Jamora as Merril, who spends most of the time on stage alone, talking to an AI version of Angie, played by Maronne Cruz. Jamora is breathtaking in the role, as she’s essentially delivering a monologue while (the real) Cruz spends her time offstage. Even if there’s no other actor to bounce lines off of, Jamora unpacks her grief with so much emotion and anguish.
Photo / CJ Ochoa via Barefoot Theatre Collaborative
Interestingly, it’s Cruz that brings the show to life. She may be AI, but her performance as the colorful, vibrant, and feisty Angie kept this writer on the edge of his seat, especially as the plot twists (yes, plural) unfurled. If Jamora took us on a journey of grief, Cruz lectured us on the ethics, comfort, and dangers of AI.
Jamora and Cruz are supported by Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante as Raquel, Merril’s ex-girlfriend and the voice of reason; and Jackie Lou Blanco as Brin, Merril and Angie’s estranged mother. Bradshaw-Volante was a good foil for Cruz, while Blanco was wonderful as the grieving mother, whose warmth is different from expectations based on how she was described earlier in the play.
Photo / CJ Ochoa via Barefoot Theatre Collaborative
Photo / CJ Ochoa via Barefoot Theatre Collaborative
The set is a sight to behold. anthropology is set on a round platform, with a similar fixture on the ceiling that shifts and lights up as the play progresses. The set design is impressive, especially the fixture, which evokes feelings of claustrophobia during certain scenes. Though beautiful, it is cold, most likely to mimic the detached and emotionless nature of technology.
Photo / May Celeste via Barefoot Theatre Collaborative
anthropology‘s central question is: can technology and AI help us grieve? The play answers the question, but we may not be ready for the response.
anthropology by Lauren Gunderson will be staged for three weeks only, with a strictly limited run of 15 performances from March 13 to 29, 2026, at the Doreen Black Box, Areté in Quezon City.
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Tickets for #anthropologyMNL are available at bit.ly/anthropologytickets.
This production of anthropology is licensed by Harmonia Holdings, Ltd. under special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service, Ltd.
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