Robert Downey Jr. takes the stage in “McNeal,” a new play by Ayad Akhtar. The play is directed by Bartlett Sher at the Vivian Beaumont Theater.
"He's one of the few writers I know whose position on AI can’t be reduced to the (understandable) plea *For God’s sake, stop threatening my existence!*" — @JeffreyGoldberg interviews @AyadAkhtar, Robert Downey Jr., Bartlett Sher on Akhtar's play, "McNeal" https://t.co/tW089n81Gs
— Peter Lattman (@peterlattman) September 30, 2024
Downey Jr. stars as Jacob McNeal, a famous writer dealing with modern technology and personal problems. The play starts with McNeal at a health check-up.
The brilliant Ayad Akhtar on why AI is a tool not a threat — “This is the paradigm for the 21st century” — and his new play starring Robert Downey Jr:https://t.co/ed7DwBwrKF
— Theo Baker (@tab_delete) September 30, 2024
His doctor, played by Ruthie Ann Miles, tells him to stop drinking. But McNeal is focused on waiting for a call about the Nobel Prize. He has failed to win many times before.
beep boop a play I found very frustrating beep boophttps://t.co/Pyr8H3urwt
— Jackson McHenry (@McHenryJD) October 1, 2024
It is shown that McNeal uses a chatbot to write his acceptance speech. This mixes humor and questions about how AI affects his creative work. As the story goes on, McNeal faces issues of addiction, ambition, and how technology changes art.
So writing is in danger while directing is not? Might that be because directing is a form of connective labor?
"The amalgam of human experience and emotion and feeling that passes through artists is uniquely human and not capturable.". #TheLastHumanJobhttps://t.co/hbAlsoirfg
— Allison Pugh (@allison_pugh) September 30, 2024
His agent, played by Andrea Martin, wants him to say his next book has no AI input. McNeal does not like this idea. It raises questions about what makes art real.
Downey Jr. brings his charm and flawed characters from past roles into McNeal. The character is a mix of Tony Stark’s wit and a deep struggle with legacy and relationships.
Downey Jr. explores AI in theater
But sometimes Downey Jr.’s performance feels forced when trying to give big speeches and tender, thoughtful moments. In the supporting cast, Rafi Gavron plays McNeal’s distant son.
Their scenes have a lot of family tension but lack emotional depth. The scenes are set in a strange, empty lodge. They look interesting but do not deliver the intended dramatic impact.
The play takes on the cultural and ethical issues of AI in art. But it falls into familiar ideas without giving new insights. Akhtar’s story suggests a world where AI content could compete with human creativity.
But it does not fully address the detailed differences between the two. The production looks impressive with sci-fi sets by Michael Yeargan and Jake Barton. It has projections that show how much technology affects McNeal’s life.
But some parts, like a fake projection of McNeal’s face, feel more like distracting tricks than important story elements. “McNeal” tries to explore the deep connections between technology, creativity, and human experience. But it does not quite succeed in creating a strong, unified drama.
The play makes the audience wonder if AI can truly copy the transformative power of human-made art. But the exploration feels shallow. Robert Downey Jr.’s Broadway role as Jacob McNeal is an interesting but flawed look at a “great man” during a technological revolution.
Even with the star power and relevant themes, “McNeal” does not have the emotional impact and detailed storytelling to fully engage its audience.
Cameron is a highly regarded contributor in the rapidly evolving fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. His articles delve into the theoretical underpinnings of AI, the practical applications of machine learning across industries, ethical considerations of autonomous systems, and the societal impacts of these disruptive technologies.
