Taiwan casts robots in Phantom of the Opera, Lloyd Webber seen kicking himself repeatedly

The University of Science and Technology in Taiwan's announced that they're putting on a very special performance of The Phantom of the Opera on December 27th, in which the two leads will be played by robots. The lead bots (named Thomas and Janet) can both walk, and have silicon facial "muscles" that help them mimic human expressions and mouth movements. There will be two additional robotic thespians, Ringo, a jazz drummer, and Pica, a painter, that move on wheels. The Center for Intelligent Robots at the University says that while they've developed the robots for entertainment purposes, they plan to move toward applying them in service fields. As if upstaging Sarah Brightman with a robot isn't service enough already.

[Thanks, Tim]

[eggothewaffle @ Dec 12th 2008 1:42PM]

"As if upstaging Sarah Brightman with a robot isn't service enough already."

I don't know who Sarah Brightman is, but that is one hell of a "Zing!"

[you @ Dec 12th 2008 1:44PM]

the end is nigh.

first they will learn how to sing and dance. next up is Rambo.

[schmitty338 @ Dec 12th 2008 1:59PM]

....man, I would LOVE to see Rambo sing and dance...


on second thought, that may be kinda painful to watch...

[Shaka @ Dec 12th 2008 1:44PM]

It has begun. First this and next thing you know they will be taking our mcdonalds jobs and selling oranges in the street and taking our house keeping jobs.
*gets his guns and calls Sarah

http://i33.tinypic.com/r9r7n5.jpg

[schmitty338 @ Dec 12th 2008 2:04PM]

Before I clicked the picture (cautiously, as I know the potential follies of opening random image links, especially at work), I assumed you meant Sarah Connor (a la the image above), but then realized how wrong I was and I must apologize to Ms. Connor for my mistake as she is much more likable than the horrible ignorant bitch found in that link.

[Shaka @ Dec 12th 2008 2:16PM]

Yeah i forgot to put in the /sarcasm command.

...... hope some1 sees what I did there.

[Uninformed idgit @ Dec 12th 2008 2:37PM]

{stupid] see what now? ^/stupid"

Barbie says "HTML tags are hard!"

[AMiSH PiRATE @ Dec 12th 2008 2:41PM]

*sigh* that woman is probably the most likely to be our savior in the coming robot wars.

[Sheila @ Dec 12th 2008 2:58PM]

Sarah Brightman was the lead female singer in Webber's original production of Phantom of the Opera. I got the musical on CD. It is real good.

[scooterbaga @ Dec 12th 2008 4:26PM]

We could be so lucky as to have robots running the fast food joints. They might not understand your order... but at least the service would be consistent.

…Maybe just have the one human in the whole place be the sucker who ‘programs’ the order.

[steven @ Dec 13th 2008 12:04AM]

"much more likable than the horrible ignorant bitch found in that link."

Stay classy, asshole.

[wud_e @ Dec 13th 2008 8:56AM]

LMAO! I thought you meant Sarah Connor until i clicked the Picture! HA!

[thedesolate1 @ Dec 13th 2008 9:12AM]

Yay! Somebody finally got it.
:P

[Xenoterranos @ Dec 12th 2008 1:51PM]

:: puts head in hands. Weeps::

We're past the point of no return here folks. The final curtain.

[MikeWard1701 @ Dec 12th 2008 2:22PM]

"What warm unspoken secrets will we learn?"


Love your avatar, Doohan FTW!
Anyone else think Simon Pegg will make a terrible Scotty, and that Paul McGillion (Carson Beckett from Stargate Atlantis) would have been a MUCH better choice?

[Xenoterranos @ Dec 12th 2008 4:21PM]

It's off topic, but yes, I totally agree on the Scotty point.

[Blacknimbus @ Dec 12th 2008 1:52PM]

As long as Andrew Lloyd Weber is kicking himself repeatedly, I'm happy.

[bandigolo @ Dec 12th 2008 1:52PM]

awesome. This is about the only thing that would get me to attend musical theater.

[Boarderwoot @ Dec 12th 2008 1:52PM]

On his way to taking over the service industry, Thomas stopped off to support the local Gay Pride parade because robots have fealings too.

This should definitely be shown worldwide in some sort of webcast or something.

[grabbydad @ Dec 12th 2008 1:54PM]

I was totally expecting a T-101 to be used. Instead, Taiwan is using an out of shape bucket to replace human tallent.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news_images/20081212/p16h.jpg

[Brian @ Dec 12th 2008 1:55PM]

That picture is wrong on so many levels...

Props to the person who mentioned Sarah Brightman. Especially if you have seen Repo: The Genetic Opera!

[Drew @ Dec 12th 2008 6:46PM]

WOOT REPO!

www.repo-opera.com

[reisa @ Dec 12th 2008 1:58PM]

That picture! lolz!

[Mileage @ Dec 12th 2008 3:06PM]

I totally agree, this picture is hilarious. I LOL'd at work and almost kicked a cubicle wall down.

[Funke, Tobias Dr. @ Dec 12th 2008 1:59PM]

"United States debuts Mamma Mia!"
"United States debuts Cats"

The headline could use a little touch up. "Taiwanese" would be much more suitable, but still not the best option I'm sure.

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 12th 2008 2:06PM]

Just don't let them play a Terminator musical, please, I, for one, do not welcome our all-singing, all-dancing, silicon-muscled, metal-boned robotic overlords.

[Uninformed idgit @ Dec 12th 2008 2:08PM]

At long last, C3PO will have a group of contemporaries who share his love for Oscar Wilde and Cole Porter. He always felt that R2D2, while a steadfast and loyal companion, was a bit too blue collar to be a true companion.

Up next, robots against Prop. 8.

[MikeWard1701 @ Dec 12th 2008 2:26PM]

NO! NO! NO!

These robots could be put to much better use by replacing Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere in a refilming of Chicago.

[Loonie @ Dec 12th 2008 2:41PM]

Can't they invent a robot that kicks Andrew Lloyd Webber repeatedly?

[Ethan @ Dec 12th 2008 2:58PM]

Does this mean they were all humans on that Graham Norton show?

[MRLN @ Dec 12th 2008 3:01PM]

If anyone has read/seen iRobot, you would understand my great elatio-- I mean-- concern. Robots will rule the world!

[admchnty @ Dec 12th 2008 3:55PM]

The only person that can upstage Sarah Brightman is Sarah Brightman. She's me Angel of Music!

[chansthename @ Dec 12th 2008 4:11PM]

Next up is probably Romeo and Juliet, you can just imagine the more emotional scenes, oh...Romeo....Romeo... Who...Art...Thou....Romeo

[Samboini @ Dec 12th 2008 4:22PM]

Moar like Robeo, Robeo, wherefore art thou Robeo?

Amirite?!

[andres @ Dec 12th 2008 5:24PM]

more like
juliet: syn
romeo: ack

[tom @ Dec 12th 2008 4:22PM]

You may not believe it but Sarah Brightman is very popular in Taiwan.

[Bob @ Dec 12th 2008 4:49PM]

So is your mom.

[sjdurfey @ Dec 12th 2008 5:04PM]

ohhhh, so thats why i saw an american woman on the corner......

[John @ Dec 12th 2008 6:55PM]

School days, school days, good old golden rule days...

[Lemmiwinks @ Dec 13th 2008 1:46AM]

But can they mimic the human emotion known as "wuv?"

[henry @ Dec 13th 2008 5:10AM]

nice touch with the reflection of the rose in the chrome.

[wud_e @ Dec 13th 2008 8:52AM]

Best Engadget picture Ever.

[wud_e @ Dec 13th 2008 8:54AM]

LMAO! I thought you meant Sarah Connor until i clicked the Picture! HA!

[Drew @ Dec 13th 2008 3:11PM]

thats a crappy copy and paste job!

stop using MSpaint!

[Scott Beckstead @ Dec 15th 2008 3:59PM]

DARFSTELLAR and other stories.; MILLER WALTER M.

Nuff said!

[Trouble @ Dec 24th 2008 11:52PM]

I think I'll notify The Center for Intelligent Robots at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology in Taipei to create a robot that sings like Sarah Brightman minus Antonio Banderas, fights and acts like Rambo (dumb slurred forced conversations optional!), Dances with Wolves, Drives Miss Daisy, and hangs out on the corner like Tom's Mom. (Bob will be a paid consultant as he knows Tom's Mom better than Tom does). Then I'll write the script for Robeo and Juliobot and it will be performed while Andrew Lloyd Webber repeatedly kicks himself (in the nuggets) centerstage.