rmd | the future begins in the late 19th century?

clauclauclaudia and I saw Futurity at the ART. Good use of the space in Oberon, although it required some craning from the table we were at to keep track of all of the action (the dance floor was set up with cocktail tables and chairs, while the action was happening on the stage, in the catwalks, and occasionally all around the space.)

It's a fantastical tale about a Union soldier in the Civil War who reads Ada Lovelace's notes on the difference engine and dreams of a 'steam brain' that will be sufficiently smart that it will end war. Correspondence between the two, all manner of singing singing, duets, speechifying, comparisons of the limits each works under, and lots of weird percussion instruments ensue.

I liked it. Some good performances, some really good moments, and some good music - both new stuff and old folky stuff.