←Recommendations of First Date 2099

In this futuristic play ‘First Date 2099,’ a regulated encounter between a man and a woman unveils their vulnerabilities. The sharp, witty dialogue contrasts their genuine emotions with the sterile backdrop of a mechanized dating system.” Enjoyed this read.

"First Date 2099" is a sweet and futuristic look into how human beings will (potentially) find love. Byham's writing is strategic, giving us moments of humanity sprinkled into the robotic interactions between these two characters which breathes life into the audience.

As stoic and awkward as these two appear to be, this really is romantic. Beyond the world that they are regulated to, they are following their hearts, the contracts be damned...but still be signed! Absolutely funny and adorable!

As I was reading this short play about contractual dating in the future, I kept asking myself what I really thought about interpersonal communication and romantic developments. I can see how we might come to this, out of a need to protect ourselves from future entanglements that we might have been more cautious about, but the truly satisfying part of Mike Byham’s world here is there is no clear answer as to how first encounters of the romantic kind should go. We just go along for the wild dystopian ride just to see where the coin lands. So good!

Truly effective and prescient writing. Relatable dialogue creating an appropriate contractual outset to romance. As with all worthy futuristic satire draws intriguing parallels to the present. FIRST DATE 2099 by Mike Byham somehow stays one step ahead while staying within the established date strategy for Man and Woman. What makes this hum along like a distant love song on the radio is that Woman makes herself both salesperson and object and Man is never wrong with the coin flips in more ways than one. Has a date that goes "very well" ever been more unsettling or amusingly ambiguous?

Bureaucracy and romance are strange bedfellows, no more so than in this fractured look at love in an age of heavy regulations. A fun concept and an engaging read; especially noteworthy is the overly formal phrasing employed throughout, which gives the impression these characters haven't just bought into the system but have been fundamentally changed by it over the last 3/4 century.

"First Date 2099" successfully blends elements of science fiction, romance, and social commentary. The play offers a unique perspective on the future of dating while maintaining relatable human elements.

Not sure if this is what was intended, but I read the characters with almost robotic voices, which maybe humans will have by 2099. Any way you choose to read it, the laughs are there. It’s amazing how much a first date in 2099 can say about relationships in 2023. A very clever piece. Heads or tails, you win!

I want to see this performed two ways: with inflection and without infection. I’ll bet it’s sexier with and more emotionally powerful without.

Byham extrapolates the trajectory of preliminary interpersonal consent to its logical extreme and still somehow manages to keep romance not only alive but thriving in a seemingly cold emotional climate.

Whether the performances are emotive or minimalist, I guarantee one thing: everyone will be smiling at the end! Talk about sticking the landing!

I want to see this performed two ways: with inflection and without infection. I’ll bet it’s sexier with and more emotionally powerful without.

Byham extrapolates the trajectory of preliminary interpersonal consent to its logical extreme and still somehow manages to keep romance not only alive but thriving in a seemingly cold emotional climate.

Whether the performances are emotive or minimalist, I guarantee one thing: everyone will be smiling at the end!