Disruption, Park Theatre, stage review: ‘A mind-twister sure to leave theatre-goers musing about their own choices’
The cast of Disruption. Photograph: courtesy ANRPR
The galloping pace of AI development has focused minds sharply in recent months: some see artificial intelligence as opening the door to endless possibilities for advancement and happiness; for others there is a distinctly dark side to algorithms that threaten to undermine free will.
This tension is at the heart of Andrew Stein’s new play Disruption, premiering at the Park Theatre.
Directed by Hersh Ellis, the drama draws together three New York couples facing life choices.
Oliver Alvin-Wilson is the standout performer. Photograph: courtesy ANRPR
Will they be able to make better decisions if helped by the AI wizardry of their entrepreneurial friend Nick and his techie sidekick Raven?
As the narrative shows, the answer is not so simple.
One unsettling subtext is the distinctly gendered nature of the solutions suggested by the pair’s technical confection. And if AI is opening up new avenues for personal and professional development, it is threatening the very existence of other areas of activity.
The play’s standout performance is delivered by the magnetic Oliver Alvin-Wilson in the role of Nick, who seems to gather and carry the energy of the entire ensemble.
Though the delivery of some of the other actors is stilted, and they are not all entirely convincing as New Yorkers, their collective performance is strong enough for the audience to suspend disbelief.
Disruption is first and foremost an engaging and very human story; it is also a mind-twister that is sure to leave a lot of theatre-goers musing about their own choices as they reach for the keyboard.
Disruption runs until 5 August at Park Theatre.