Realities
book by Steve Hochman
music and lyrics by Charlie Gilbert
Realities invites the audience to enter the world of Alex Inman, computer virtuoso and designer of “virtual realities,” a form of digital technology which enables an individual to enter and interact with computer-generated illusions. The VR experience surrounds the user with video or holographic images via goggles that cover the eyes and computer generated sounds, and a “data glove” is used to enable the user to touch and manipulate imaginary objects and navigate the terrain of this “silicon mirage.” In Alex’s world, imagination and technology combine to create a universe of unlimited possibilities.
For Alex, confined to a wheelchair as a result of a recent crippling auto accident, virtual reality is more than an intriguing experiment. It is his means of escaping the pain and physical limitations of his condition into an idealized world where his vision and values can prevail. Realities narrates the events of several crucial days in the life of this tormented genius, when forces converge to shake his solitary world to its computerized core.
Download and read a synopsis of Realities.
Pictured on the left: Matt Cloran as Alex and Forrest McClendon as Miles in a concert reading of Realities.