Writer: Grace Spencer
Director: Sava Cebotari
Three teens, a school project, and an omniscient AI. What could possibly go wrong? Kinth Square Theatre Company brings, Dad is Not My Friend to London’s Cockpit Theatre, providing an intriguing high-tech concept that unfortunately misses the mark.
The three teens, strangers in background and upbringing, are thrown together for a group project, ‘What is the Future?’. Flashy private school Naveen (Eisa Latif), pampered grammar school Amara (Marcavia McCarthy) and unassuming David (Gus Flind-Henry) from the local comprehensive traverse their prejudices and form an unlikely friendship. But when a new omniscient AI invention, the sweetly sinister voice of ‘Bailey’, enters the scene, the consequences are devastating.
It’s a solid plot in theory, and the production begins to provide musings on identity, the varying challenges of having migrant parents, and the threat of the digital and real-world warping into one horrible cacophony through AI. But in an effort to encompass all of this, the production ties itself into such knots it successfully covers none of these topics.
There are some engaging performances. Flind-Henry’s David is a subtle performance with an undercurrent of emotion that is engaging to watch. A monologue regarding his characters’ bereavement is incredibly moving in its still simplicities, and Flind Henry’s a very talented vocalist to boot. McCarthy and Latif provide solid performances as the individually flawed, and endearing Amara and Naveen: Latif, especially, when describing Naveen’s complex relationship with a detached migrant father.
But these selling points are shadowed by the pastiche of confusing plot points that do not connect, slightly cyclical dialogue, and musical and dancing interludes that, although nice to listen to, add little to the rest of the plot. Indeed, misdirection results in Latif’s erratic energy being off balance with McCarthy’s muted performance, allowing the audience to disengage during some of their interactions. Further, fourth wall breaks mixed with multi-media only add to the confusion of seemingly unrelated plot points, that often aren’t resolved.
Although it should be said, the technical elements of Dad is Not My Friend themselves are truly impressive. The AI monster ‘Bailey’ is brought to life as a projection on a large screen at the back of the Cockpit’s sizeable space. Pre-edited videos interact with onstage actors with dynamic results, however, although fun to look at, the technical gimmicks do nothing to assist the confusion of the plot.
In short, Kinth Square Theatre Company tease an exciting show for the modern age but end up spending 120 minutes with an audience only to leave them unengaged and with a multitude of questions left unanswered.
Runs until 17 March 2024
