4 out of 5 stars

“And Then We Were No More” depicts a dehumanizing, futuristic justice system in which guilt seems predetermined and a machine carries out executions “without pain.” The rigorously crafted play, by prolific character actor and writer Tim Blake Nelson, is more than Kafka-esque -- it's a loose update of Kafka's “In the Penal Colony.” The cast, including Elizabeth Marvel, Elizabeth Yeoman and Scott Shepherd, offers expertly etched performances under Mark Wing-Davey's direction. Plus, David Meyers' scenic design is visually stunning. Yet an intentional mystification about what's happening and why distances viewers from the drama, making the exercise more intellectual than emotional. — Adam Z. Horvath

At La MaMa, through Nov. 2, 2025; lamama.org. (Review date: Sept. 30, 2025)