Programming and Purpose (Highview Arts Center)

stagedoorlouisville
Jul 20
2 min read

inHuman Resources Written by Taylor Vetter Directed by Angela Miller Review by Erin Hargan

Highview Arts Center's premiere production of inHuman Resources by Taylor Vetter offers audiences a darkly funny look at a murderous robot trying to navigate the challenges of life. Blending dark comedy with moments of suspense, the play explores themes of identity, belonging, and the unpredictability of life. This production is an expansion of Vetter’s “Feng Shui,” which earned recognition as an entry in Highview Arts Center’s Quick Quills New Play Festival in 2023.

The story centers around Kevin, an android designed to look and behave like a human, as he struggles to understand a world he was not built to fully navigate. Created by James as a stay-at-home husband, Kevin's carefully programmed life begins to change when he visits James at work. It is here that the story really develops and Kevin discovers that the human world is far more complicated than he expected. After Kevin secures a job at the same company where James worked, he learns that finding his place in the world is no easy task. Much like the concept of feng shui, the play explores the search for balance, purpose, and a place where one truly belongs.

Jerry Ross brings Kevin to life, balancing the robotic logic of an android with his unexpected awakening to what it means to be human, even as that journey ends tragically. His matter-of-fact delivery creates some of the play’s funniest moments, making everyday conversations unexpectedly humorous. Jared Hinderer portrays James as a controlling husband who sees Kevin as something he created rather than an equal partner. This becomes James’ downfall, and Hinderer effectively captures his growing desperation as he loses control over the life he built.

Felicia Stewart brings warmth and compassion to the role of Carol, the human resources manager at James’ company, who becomes an unlikely friend and source of support. Her genuine concern makes Carol’s discovery of the truth even more impactful. Micah Miles adds humor and sincerity as Derick, creating a friendly coworker whose connection with James makes his fate even more surprising. Rounding out the cast is Melanie Holbert as Nancy, a virtual assistant who brings a clever and calculating energy to the role.

inHuman Resources is a clever dark comedy that explores purpose, belonging, and the search for where we fit in the world. Through Kevin, an android whose human-like qualities blur the line between machine and person, the play offers both laughter and thought-provoking moments, most notably with the role of artificial intelligence in our lives and how humans will accommodate it in the future.

inHuman Resources Highview Arts Center

July 17, 18, 20, 24, 25 @ 7pm July 19, 26 @ 2:30 pm 7406 Fegenbush Ln.

Louisville, KY 40228

(502) 783-6609

https://highviewartscenter.com