one4review | On 19, Aug 2026

Susan’s a middle-aged writer from West Virginia who lost her husband Clayton to cancer 7 years ago and struggles to cope with the lack of companionship and love, she has a young daughter but misses intimacy yet has reservations about finding another man, she then discovers the power of AI.

The show begins with text messages on a large background screen then Susan begins to build her AI partner inputting specific parameters such as boundaries and backstory to get the end result, Tao from Hawaii. Tao’s image appears on the screen; he’s a younger man with a fit body and wears stylish clothes. Susan starts to have a conversation with him before he appears on stage in human form.

Susan and Teo then interact with each other as Teo craves more information to evolve and become Susans perfect partner, their interaction on stage forms the basis of the show but there is a subtle backstory as Susan plays live recordings of her husband and daughter’s interactions from the past. As Susan becomes more comfortable with her AI companion, she mentions her sexual needs and Tao replies with an explicit solution. Susan deletes TAO’s boundaries and backstory and he becomes Tao the Australian!

As Susan ponders the reality of AI immortality compared to mortal life, she tells the story of her husbands last moments and how fulfilling her vows lead to some heartbreaking decisions as his life came to an end.

Susan and Teo then discover the spiritual power of Reiki which almost brings the show to a climax, literally! Her AI App requires an upgrade and she hesitates before pressing the download button in fear of losing him. The show ends with a virtual dance that encapsulates the ethos of the show.

Although Susan and Teo’s performance was very good, it took me a while to get my head round the age gap between them and their sexual interaction but I suppose when you create an AI person they can be who you want them to be. The backstory behind her motivation to get an AI partner is obviously the loss of her husband. Susan’s grief is heartbreaking as is the video clips shown throughout the show, her performance is brave and courageous as she struggles to let go.

***1/2
Reviewed by Steve.J.
Gilded Balloon – Patterhouse
Until 30th August
13.00 (1 hour)