In a reversal of the tale of Pinocchio, Comic Potential is the story of an android who would rather be melted down than become human, with all the pain and confusion of emotional involvement. JCF 31333 (Sian Couture) is an actoid — an android actor — and a popular character in a daytime TV soap opera, set in a hospital. The android malfunctions, laughing and making jokes on her own initiative. When a real man becomes infatuated with her quirky and naïve ‘personality, the silicon chips hit the fan.This is Ayckbourn at his cleverest, with a multi-layered plot that challenges our perception of love, intimacy and the very essence of what it means to be human. At the same time, we are treated to a dissertation on the nature of comedy. SIan Couture  brilliantly  portrayed the not-quite-human Jacie (JC), struggling to cope with a dawning consciousness of self, ‘a sad victim of Cupid’s custard pie’. David Howes and Joyce Coleman were also superbly disciplined as robotic actoids. Their human operators were shown as chaotic and irresponsible— Chandler Tate (Barry Barker) the drunk who was once one of the world’s greatest film directors and his two lesbian production assistants Trudi Floote (Vivienne Morris) and Prim Spring (Clare Lawrance).As the plot unravelled into bedroom farce, Lawrance had one of the best lines: “So now I’m a ‘nurse’ who stays in hotel rooms with strange men. God, my mother will be so happy!” As the idealistic young writer, Adam Trainsmith, Neil Murfltt was convincingly passionate, about his comedy scriptwriting and his impossible love affair. Adam is also pursued by studio boss Carla Pepperbloom, a  terrifying performance by Fiona Barker in strict suits and dominatrix high heels. There are plenty of laughs, but also some genuinely touching moments in this well-directed piece. The audience  is left wondering if we really are as unique as we think we are - and if any of us is capable of doing more than merely repeating the words and thoughts put into our minds and mouths by others.

GAYLE WADE (Bury Free Press)