SkyPilot Theatre have climate change, simulations and the apocalypse on their minds in new digital show Alternate Endings, currently streaming at the Edinburgh Fringe.
In ten different vignettes, we meet different characters at the point of obliteration: some in sterile, laboratory environments; others more straightforward home or work zones.
From Presidential addresses to Zoom chats and sci-fi neural processors, Alternate Endings marshals a large cast through an interesting set of closing premises.
Jonathan Price, who died earlier this year, has written (and composed) a piece which is both satirical and surprising. This is life on the dark side – pick your own eve of destruction.
The play may feel pandemic-influenced but in fact pre-dates the epidemic by quite a few years. It just has a different resonance now.
Whether it is politicians, scientists, religious confirmists or conspiracy theorists, someone is going to send us into the afterlife at some point.
There are some lovely moments: the hip, black Jesus: the girl who connects through regular smiles and waves with a random old couple; a robot who demonstrates sentience.
The ensemble of this non-profit company are all excellent, whether in group scenes or monologue, and production values are excellent throughout.
Special mention goes to Hudson O’Brien’s breezy President, Gerald Dewey’s Jesus, Marie Pettit’s Tara and Susan, Ayla Rose Barreau’s Callie, and Morry Schorr/LB Zimmerman’s elderly couple.
You can watch Alternate Endings on-demand for free during the Edinburgh Fringe: details here.
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