Written by Amy Conway
Directed by Ben Standish
Review by Charlene Friar
The initial thought of artificial intelligence being used to help overcome loneliness and depression seems completely absurd, even more so when that AI comes to life as someone you personally know. However, with the rapid advances in AI, the idea is becoming increasingly realistic. Amy Conway’s FEEL_GOOD brings that concept to the stage in a funny, sharp and slightly unsettling examination of using AI to combat loneliness and create intimacy, while asking the question: is this the new normal?
FEEL_GOOD is part of Òran Mór’s A Play, A Pie and A Pint season and it follows Henry, a lonely young man, played effortlessly by Sam Stopford, whose day takes an unexpected turn when a knock at the door brings his ex, Liz, back into his life. The only issue is Liz is not the real Liz. She is an AI robot designed to look and act exactly like her.
Anna Russell-Martin is brilliant as Liz, finding the right balance between acting robotic and being human. Her stilted delivery provides humorous moments, acting like a sexy Alexa. However, it is when she becomes more human after spending time with Henry that Russell-Martin really shines. The more human she appears, the more unsettling the full thing becomes.
Stopford plays Henry well, providing a mix of nervousness and awareness with a slight edge that gradually increases the more attached he becomes to AI Liz. At some points, it gives the audience an uneasy feeling which blends easily into the comedy elements, something Conway writes brilliantly. The comedy helps keep the story light while never diminishing the message.
And there is a lot of comedy to enjoy.
Russell-Martin’s sexy dance is one of the show’s highlights along with the line “just found a stain, I’m praying it’s toothpaste”, which had the audience in stitches. Also, her shouting “Your free trial has come to an end!” just as they are about to get intimate was a fantastic little twist that is a perfect gag for the A Play, A Pie and A Pint audience.
The intimacy scenes could have been awkward or vulgar, but they were handled incredibly well, showcasing the power imbalance between Henry and AI Liz without feeling seedy. The eventual arrival of real-life Liz allowed the story to move full circle and gave Russell-Martin the opportunity to subtly move between the companion Liz and the woman who she was modelled on.
From there, FEEL_GOOD digs deeper into depression, misogyny, loneliness and how dangerously easy it can be to rely on the comfort of simulated intimacy. It works well; however, much of this comes close to the end of the show and could have benefited from more room to develop. A little more involvement from real Liz would also have helped the ending feel less abrupt.
That said, FEEL_GOOD is a funny, clever and entertaining piece of writing with a talented and engaging cast. Russell-Martin and Stopford bounce off each other brilliantly, while Conway’s script and Ben Standish’s direction create a humorous and thought-provoking show that is hugely enjoyable to watch. The premise may feel ridiculous at the start, but by the end FEEL_GOOD will leave you wondering just how ridiculous the premise really is.
Humorous and Thought-Provoking
FEEL_GOOD was performed at Òran Mór as part of A Play, A Pie, and A Pint
Running time: Fifty minutes without interval
Photo credit – Eoin Carey
Review by Charlene Friar (contact@corrblimey.uk)
Charlene Friar is a Scottish screenwriter, reviewer and podcast host with an MA in TV Fiction Writing. She writes about film, television and theatre, and hosts Before the Credits, interviewing people working across the screen industries. She is also developing a slate of original film and television projects, with upcoming review work for Launch magazine.
