ANTHROPOLOGY

When they say it’s a psychological thriller, they really mean it. Sorry for the word, but it FUCKS with your mind and your preconceived notions about AI.

Intelligence may be artificial, yet it can feel more natural than humans. AI has no feelings—but why does it sound like it has so many suppressed ones?

It’s just one of the many questions you’ll find yourself asking as the play unfolds. In fact, there will be more questions than answers. While that may sound relentless, it keeps you hooked on the story.

You’re trapped inside, unable to escape.

The play doesn’t want to let it go.

Indeed, there’s no bathroom break—you’re in it for the full 1 hour and 40 minutes. At times, you might want to breathe or trade theories with your friends about what’s happening. But no—it’s just you and your mind, which makes the experience even more fittingly unsettling.

The actors deliver each line with clarity, almost like listening to an audiobook. It’s helpful because every word matters, serving as a clue to piece the mystery together.

Jenny Jamora shifts seamlessly between frantic and sane. You never quite lose hope for her character, even when others begin to doubt her. Her actions seem erratic on the surface, but they’re grounded in a certain logic. She navigates the gray areas without being reduced to a single trait, delivering a complex portrayal.

Mikkie Bradshaw-Volante has a glowing presence and a crystal-clear voice. She says things with conviction, enough to make you interested in her character’s growth. But it never quite reaches those heights.

Individually, Jenny and Mikkie are good. But together, they don’t feel like an ex-couple with a shared past, leaving you detached from their relationship.

Among the pile of revelations the show has to give, Maronne Cruz happens to be the best one. She has powerfully mastered the duality of being human and artificial. She can be robotic and empathetic at the same time. Her bursts of emotions aren’t meant to be contained in a small device; they have to break free.

Jackie Lou Blanco has a noticeably different accent from the rest, which at times slightly pulls you out of the overall experience. But it’s not much of a distraction, especially given how she brings emotions to her performance.

A bare stage has its advantages, allowing you to focus on the actors, but at times, long dialogues aren’t enough to keep you engaged. The lights and visuals could've been more playful and in sync with the pace of the show.

Certain scenes could’ve been tighter. Either you’re growing impatient to see what happens next, or the narrative keeps repeating the same kind of information. There are moments that drag, but the twists manage to pull them back.

It’s getting crazier, stretching the limits of what’s possible. With AI in the equation, the better question could be… what’s not possible?

The strongest element of the play lies in its refusal to frame AI (and human) as simply good or bad. It avoids safe portrayals, offering something far more layered. There’s so much to unravel—and ultimately, its true power depends on the hands that shape it.

#AnthropologyMNL runs from March 13 to 29, 2026, at the Doreen Black Box, Areté, Ateneo. Tickets are priced at ₱2,500, which is expensive—but ultimately, the decision is yours to make.