The work is directed by Jessica Bird, an associate producer at the La Jolla Playhouse and a producer in residence at the Rep. Bird has also directed and acted as an assistant director for many plays. While her resume is already impressive, Bird considers \u201cUncanny Valley\u201d to be her \u201cbig break.\u201d<\/p>\n
Set 40 years in the future, the plot revolves around an unusual liaison between a 70-year-old neuroscientist, Claire (Rosina Reynolds), and a non-biological being that she has created, Julian (Nick Cagle). At first, Claire acts as a surrogate mother who tries to teach Julian about being human, and all the nuances and complexities that it entails. As events unfold and time passes, their connection to each other dramatically changes in unexpected ways.<\/p>\n Audience members might expect the director of \u201cUncanny Valley\u201d to be a die-hard fan of futuristic adventures from writers such as Philip K. Dick and Ray Bradbury. Ironically, the sci-fi elements were not what attracted Bird to Thomas Gibbons\u2019 script.<\/p>\n \u201cOn the outside, the story seems like a piece about a robot and a scientist,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are those elements, but at the heart of it, the tale is about humanity and what makes us human. Claire and Julian really develop a mother\/son relationship and they become bonded with one another.\u201d<\/p>\n Since Bird is not the most devoted follower of sci-fi, after she first heard about the drama, she was not sure if it would appeal to her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I was asked to read the script, I thought I was probably not going to like the plot very much,\u201d she said. \u201cAfter I read it, I realized that \u2018Uncanny Valley\u2019 is a really great play and deals with much more than just futuristic concepts.\u201d<\/p>\n The director believes that the theatrical piece will appeal to a broad audience.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the technology community is going to enjoy this, but even people that wouldn\u2019t consider themselves sci-fi fans will find plenty to appreciate,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Although \u201cUncanny Valley\u201d is set several decades in the future, Bird senses that the Gibbons\u2019 vision could become a reality.<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, there are scientists and companies that are experimenting with combining artificially intelligent robots and human consciousness,\u201d she said. \u201cThe way technology is moving, it\u2019s like you have 100 years of progression in 10 years. I personally think A.I. is going to intertwine with our lives. Not necessarily with robots, but instead will result from artificial limbs and things that people are turning to for medical reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n An issue that she believes will continue to get bigger is \u201chow far will you go with technology,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople that are making the breakthroughs have a huge ethical responsibility in their hands.\u201d<\/p>\n After the run of \u201cUncanny Valley\u201d is over, Bird looks forward to transitioning from one-day directing to directing a show written by Sarah Ruhl. The playwright is best known for her Tony nominated comedy \u201cIn the Next Room (Or the Vibrator Play),\u201d \u201cEurydice\u201d and the 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist, \u201cThe Clean House.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe speaks to the female experience and is very poetic and creative in her pieces,\u201d she said. \u201cI would love to direct one of her plays sometime soon.\u201d \u201cThere are not many plays that try to depict robots on stage,\u201d she said. \u201cThe creative talent and work that the actors are putting into it is pretty fascinating to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Bird\u2019s intriguing comments makes the San Diego Rep\u2019s staging seem like a deeply insightful and emotionally compelling two-header.<\/p>\n![\"Jessica-Birdweb\"](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Jessica-Birdweb-200x300.jpg\")
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\nHowever, until then, her focus is on her current project, \u201cUncanny Valley.\u201d A major reason why Bird believes audiences will enjoy the production is because of the originality and ambition of the unique event.<\/p>\n