“McNeal,” starring Robert Downey Jr., is an innovative 90-minute play that explores artificial intelligence (AI) and human creativity. It premiered on Sept. 5 in the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center and held its official opening for audiences on Sept. 30.
Downey is no stranger to commanding attention, but “McNeal” is his first time on the Broadway stage. He plays Jacob McNeal, a writer with numerous Nobel Prize nominations facing accusations of plagiarism. Throughout the play, McNeal becomes fixated on AI.
The play, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar and directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, explores themes related to creativity, technology and personal responsibility. Some questions that are raised include: what happens if machines tell stories? Will AI strip humanity away from art, or will it change how we create and consume literature?
Downey brings a special energy to the role. McNeal is a character caught in a battle with the evolution of AI, unsure if it is a threat to his creativity or an opportunity to reimagine it.
Downey’s performance makes the audience empathize with McNeal, even as his actions become increasingly unpredictable.
This conflict with technology establishes tension in his performance as McNeal’s life spirals out of control, and his obsession with AI becomes not just a mission, but a personal crisis. He deals with the fear that machines may soon create stories better than humans can and fear is obvious through his emotional breakdowns throughout the play.
Visually, “McNeal” is impressive. Sher’s direction is clean and precise. It has a minimalist set that transitions smoothly. The play utilizes McNeal’s cluttered office, the sterile world of AI as the setting of where his relationships unravel at the scene.
Modern technology, particularly the iPhone, is used in a chilling and unsettling way. The iPhone plays a role in McNeal’s day-to-day life and acts as a symbol of isolation. Through the device, McNeal’s reliance on technology also erodes his personal relationships.
Downey’s performance makes the audience empathize with McNeal, even as his actions become increasingly unpredictable.
The play’s script challenges the audience to confront their beliefs about human creativity versus AI. However, the execution falls short of the ambition. “McNeal” occasionally has a hard time exploring the emotional side of its characters. The progress of the play at times feels erratic, with some scenes diving too deep into philosophical ideas, leaving audiences behind.
McNeal’s estranged relationship with his son feels undeveloped. There is tension between them, and the play does not give their storyline enough space to breathe.
There is a relevance to this theme in today’s creative industries. Professionals are dealing with the implications of AI-generated content that “McNeal” showcases. The play prompts its characters and audience to ask questions about the future of creativity. What makes a story important? Is it the process behind it or the final product? If machines can create stories just as well as humans, where does that leave the artists?
McNeal’s obsession with AI is not a professional interest. It is a reflection of his fear of being replaced by machines that can replicate creativity. “McNeal” displays a society where AI can produce creative ideas. This is when the lines between human creativity and machine replication are blurred.
The play does not provide easy answers. Instead, it presents the problem as a conversation.
“McNeal,” although ambitious, does not fully realize its potential. However, Downey’s Broadway debut is truly captivating. He brings in a raw intensity to the role that makes the character’s intellectual and emotional struggles real and immediate.