Image: 2015 MCC Theater production of The Nether (Jenny Anderson)
Author
Jennifer Haley
What It’s All About
2050 the internet, or “the Nether” as it’s now called, has perfected its ability to mimic reality. People spend their lives plugged in – the Nether can stimulate in vivid detail everything a person could possibly imagine and some things a person shouldn’t. We join Morris, a young and determined detective, as she interrogates two older men, Sims and Doyle. Sims has created a Victorian-esque dreamland within the Nether to fulfill his disturbing pedophilic fantasies. Morris is resolved to banish Sims from the Nether at any cost – a cost that is greater than she could have ever imagined.
Why You Should Do This Play
If you’re looking for a play that’s dark, perverse and immensely fascinating, you’ve found it. The Nether is an absolutely chilling look at virtual reality. You’ll find yourself filling in some horrific blanks. These fully realized characters seek truth in whether our actions, virtual or not, hold real consequences. It’s the type of play that gets into your head and stays there.
The Particulars
3 men, 1 woman, and 1 girl – The Nether calls for a very young actress, and while it deals with very adult themes, the scenes with the young character are not graphic. There is an opportunity for spectacle, but it could work just as well with a sparse set.
Need to Know
The Nether takes on some very dark and relevant themes – pedophilia, murder and molestation, just to name a few. This play is certainly not for the faint of heart. But for those up to the challenge, it is a gripping take on where our love affair with technology may be headed.
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