Simon Ward reviews Moderation at the Hope Theatre

Making its UK premiere at the Hope, Kevin Kautzman’s searingly topical new play, Moderation is the darkest of dark comedies. It is unmistakably an American work, but its themes resonate across the world, just as the actions of the techbro oligarchs of Silicon Valley do. In a simple but effective staging, under the direction of Lydia Parker, Robbie Curran (as He) and Alice Victoria Winslow (as She) play workers in an unnamed social media company. Their job is to ‘moderate’ the content, that is to evaluate what has been added to the platform and determine whether it is legitimate free speech orif it should be removed. There is a detailed company handbook with instructions on how they are to perform this task, although, of course, the handbook cannot cater for everything that the worst dark excesses of the human psyche can conjure up.

Winslow is the new worker, Curran her boss. They are uncomfortably close together, both staring at screens. The Company monitors their eye movements, and is suspicious of any time spent on a ‘bio-break’. Indeed, the very term ‘bio-break’ hints at what must be a Company objective, namely the replacement of these expensive human operatives by an AI equivalent. Indeed, how can Curran be sure that Winslow is not some AI plant to test his management credentials? Just because you are paranoid doesn’t mean they are not out to get you. And he is desperate to escape the relentless diet of school shootings, beheadings, rape and torture. Which is only possible by progressing to management level. Winslow, on the other hand, is only doing the job to help support her sick mother. And she is so traumatised by what she sees on her first day that she can hardly bear to come back. Of course, there is a Company counsellor, but meetings with them are also monitored and harshly judged.

As their relationship develops it becomes clear that He has fallen down one too many rabbit-holes – He admits to being ‘brainsick’ but insists that He can still do the job, in spite of believing in many of the conspiracy theories which He is supposed to be moderating. She, in turn, learns to cope with the demands of the job, as well as beginning to plot a way out of it. Her route out will lead to his downfall – they both know that, and neither of them really know how he will deal with it.

This is a tightly written gem of a play. Intelligent and engrossing on social media, it is equally astute on the politics of office life and what works when climbing the company ladder. Kautzman knows about the importance of human relationships, and conversely, the dire consequences of their absence. Curran and Winslow brilliantly convey two characters each trapped in their own way, but one with greater resources to effect an escape. The denouement is brilliantly handled – at once horrific, tragic and darkly comedic.

Moderation is running at the Hope Theatre, 207 Upper Street, London N1 1RL until Saturday 5th April