When Paul meets Mandy, he thinks he finally found the one. She’s smart, funny, sexy, and resourceful. The perfect girlfriend. She’s also not real. Well, sort of. She’s an AI. He’s basically dating Alexa. Still, she’s all his and nothing and no one can get between them. That is until she decides to talk to Zach, Paul’s flatmate, who’s on the verge of breaking up with his girlfriend Lisa.
“WiFi-Sexual” is “an outrageously dark romcom” about being in a relationship with a piece of technology. It has its perks, like dating a portable partner from the inexpensive comfort of your home. You can switch them on and off according to your needs. They’re in fact designed to cater to your wishes. There are also challenges, the main being the lack of a physical body. This aspect offers several opportunities for comedy gold. Actors Tom Hodgson (Paul) and Harrison Trott (Zach)’s writing delivers a perfect feel-good romcom tone. Confidently supported by Holly Anne White’s clever direction and May Bucilliat’s quirky and colourful design, they immerse the audience into a sit-com atmosphere, a real-life Netflix watch. The first half is especially laugh-out-loud hilarious.
In the second half though, as the plot gets more serious, the play struggles to land its poignant message. Lost between the farcical exploration of Wi-Fi dating and the bittersweet conundrums about contemporary real-life dating, it seems unsure about where to direct its focus. Consequently, it tends to primarily deal with the physical over the emotional intimacy of a relationship. The fear of loneliness and of opening up to someone evoked at the beginning of the text are very promising, universal and intriguing themes. It’s a shame that they got lost and muddled along the way. Kate Lindsey is confidently versatile in her double role as Lisa and Mandy. Her AI’s performance is particularly impressive, a very engaging voice acting. At the moment the writing of the female characters isn’t layered enough to let her fully shine and unlock the overall emotional heart of the play.
“WiFi Sexual” is a successful comedy, perfect choice for a good night out at the theatre, away from the screens. It’s witty, thought-provoking and full of heart. It’s both a fresh contemporary piece and a comforting feel-good sitcom. It could be bolder, but I do hope its journey continues and to see an updated version someday in the future.
Runs at Greenwich Theatre until 18th May.
Review: Francesco Pagnoncelli