Simon Ward reviews Prototype at the Old Red Lion Theatre

Directed by Olivia Gibbs-Fairley, written and performed by Steph Darcey, and presented as part of the Camden Fringe, Prototype is a show that deserves a wide audience. It is a savage satire – it is packed full of on-the-nose gags yet it is chilling how plausible AMEXA, the robot politician, actually is. I am not sure whether John Crace’s characterisation of Teresa May as the Maybot was a direct inspiration, but there are certainly some Maybot-like moments here, including May’s notorious entrance onto the Tory conference stage to Abba’s Dancing Queen. Darcey’s delivery as AMEXA is uncanny – she manages to convey a perfect balance of almost-but-not-quite human which is very funny and not a little spooky. It comes as quite a relief to hear her more natural voice as she plays all the other roles – from put-upon software developer to frustrated TV interviewer to sex-pest MP and more.

The initial setup is essentially a sales pitch to us, as the world’s evil oligarchs, inviting us to purchase AMEXA in order to advance any of our aims, whether that might be climate-change denial, warmongering or any disinformation we might prefer. And because there can be multiple AMEXAs the havoc to be wreaked is only limited by our imagination, and, of course, our budget. Even though AMEXA is still really at the prototype stage, and there are a few outstanding bugs to be worked through, the slave-driving boss insists that she must be rushed into production and get elected as an MP.

The results are hilarious as the half-finished robot attempts to navigate the overwhelming data overload that is the real world. Some parts are easier than others. It is terrifyingly believable how she manages to dislodge the sitting MP in her target seat by dredging up some scandal based on his social media history. And her insistence on giving identical answers whatever the question rings all too true. In fact the horrifying truth is that she could quite easily fit the mould of an identikit MP, right down to the cosplay in hi-viz and hard hat or Union Jack. Other aspects of reality are more difficult to navigate – taking a drink of water is not as easy as it looks and shaking hands with the public can lead to malfunction.

In spite of her frequent mis-steps, including accidentally but literally ‘crossing the floor’ of the house, AMEXA, with her ability to repeat the same lines ad nauseam and present an apparently bland face to the world, manages to thrive in parliament. There is no happy ending here, she isn’t found out, for all we know she is still out there! Like all the best satirists, Darcey makes us think deeply even as we laugh.

Prototype is running at the Old Red Lion Theatre, , 418 St John Street, London EC1V 4NJ until 16th August and then at the Museum of Comedy, St George’s Church, Bloomsbury Way, London WC1A 2SR on 18th August