Hundreds gathered at the Museum of Contemporary Art Thursday evening for “Mementos Mori,” a riveting exploration of death, disaster and chaos. Presented as part of the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival, an innovative group of performers used paper puppets, live music and overhead projectors to tell three overlapping stories in which death targets unsuspecting individuals.

Manuel Cinema, a Chicago-based puppet company, offered a “meditation on how digital culture is changing our relationship to death and dying.” Death, disguised as a young and stylish blonde, is only notified of her next target by a smartphone app called “Reapr,” a play on the adult matchmaking service Tinder.

Her three victims– a twenty-something delivery woman, an unemployed middle-aged smoker and a grandmother– struggle with day-to-day tasks until she arrives to claim them. Death is impartial and may arrive at any moment, whether it comes as a result of a heart attack, a car crash or complications of old age. Much of the silent production focuses on a seven-year-old girl who must confront her own mortality.

“Mementos Mori” is a play on the Latin phrase meaning to “remember death.”

The audience remained transfixed throughout the brisk 90-minute performance. Audible gasps and sighs echoed during some of the more emotional moments.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before. I am fascinated by death and read a lot about it,” said Amanda Mobley, a 25-year-old strategist. “It’s fascinating to think about what happens to you after you die, and what it means to be alive. The technological aspect of the play is interesting, because everything we do now will live forever on the Internet.”

Many left the theatre tweeting and sharing their reactions on other social media platforms.

Mementos Mori runs through Jan. 18. Tickets are available here.