The Barton Theatre Department will present its adaptation of the sci-fi classic “R.U.R. - Rossum’s Universal Robots,” by Karel Capek at 7:30 p.m. March 2,3, 9, 10, and 11 and at 2 p.m. March 4 and 11 in the Fine Arts Auditorium. Tickets are on sale now at shows.bartonccc.edu. This show is for mature audiences.

In this sci-fi suspense classic, humans have created robots meant to serve humankind, but the robots have other plans, and an epic battle between man and machine erupts. Barton Director of Theatrical Activities Dan Williams said it’s eerie how much this play, written in 1919, has become less science fiction and very much like our reality today.

“Last fall, in my play production class, I gave the play to my students to read and discuss, and as I expected, they also found ‘R.U.R.’ to be fascinating and very timely,” he said. Since this play is now more than 100 years old and in the public domain, we spent the remainder of the semester updating it to make it playable for a modern audience.”

Williams became fascinated with the play from a discussion he had with his son after viewing a painting by Denise Marta-Burch called “New Neighbors,” which was an updated take on “American Gothic,” but with robots as the subjects. 

“This painting started a conversation between me and my son about the reality of how technology is overcoming mankind,” he said. “When I returned to campus, I began researching plays about robots. I didn’t expect to find this play from 1919, nor did I know Capek had been deemed the creator of science fiction and the inventor of the word robot, which is derived from the Czech noun ‘robota,’ meaning ‘labor.’ What I did realize as I read Capek’s play was that he was a visionary and that his play dealt with exactly what my son Josh and I had discussed after viewing the painting.”

Cast members are Barton students Ashton Ramsey, Ashlynn Harrelson, Prince Tsiang, Lilly Kimberlin and Ethan Reneau, along with Great Bend resident Dwight Young.