228. The Cup | Game of Life (bluemouth inc.)

Welcome back to the 228th episode of The Cup which is our a weekly (give or take, TBD, these are unprecedented times) performing arts talk show presented by Cup of Hemlock Theatre. With the theatres on a come back we offer a mix of both reviews of live shows we've seen and continued reviews of prophet productions! For our 228th episode we bring you a Duet Review of Game of Life, a two-part theatrical experience (containing Lucy AI and Elephant) created and performed by the members of bluemouth inc., presented in its world premiere at The Theatre Centre. Join Jillian Robinson and Ryan Borochovitz, as they discuss community building through participatory performance, the bittersweet complexities of generative AI, and the healing power of Art (with a capital “A”). Game of Life ran at The Theatre Centre (1115 Queen St W, Toronto, ON) from March 27-29, 2025. Information about the production can be found via following link: https://www.bluemouthinc.live/game-of-life This review contains many SPOILERS for Game of Life. It will begin with a general non-spoiler review until the [27:49] mark, followed by a more in-depth/anything goes/spoiler-rich discussion. If you intend to see the production, we recommend you stop watching after that point, or at least proceed at your own risk. Even though its premiere run has already come to an end, we hope and expect that it may receive a fruitful afterlife. Follow our panelists: Jillian Robinson – Instagram: @jillian.robinson96 Ryan Borochovitz – [Just send all that love to CoH instead; he won’t mind!]; if you enjoy his theatre thoughts, more can be found at https://nextmag.ca/search/borochovitz Follow Cup of Hemlock Theatre on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @cohtheatreIf you’d like us to review your upcoming show in Toronto, please send press invites/inquiries to [email protected] CHAPTERS: 0:00 – Intro: Let’s Play a Game 3:30 – Pre-Spoiler 4:45 – Pre-Spoiler: Lucy AI 13:43 – Pre-Spoiler: Elephant27:31 – SPOILERS from here on out 27:54 – Let the Games Begin 34:44 – Rigidity, Freedom, and Stolen Time 52:31 – Dancing Through Life 57:54 – Theatre of Dead Elephants 1:02:28 – Where’s Walpurgisnacht? 1:11:36 – Lucy, you got some ’splainin’ to do 1:16:44 – Black Mirror Fanfiction 1:26:11 – Why is Lucy AI? 1:39:08 – Sign Off: No Stationary Bike is an Island