ROI review – hectic venture-capital drama is a heady brew

An earnest research scientist, Willa, turns up at a sleek venture-capital firm with a set of old-school index cards to pitch her idea. May initially dismisses her until she realises Willa has a way to predict cancer in the human body, a medicalised version of the 'precrime' concept but set in modern-day San Francisco.

May, the ambitious protege of company boss Paul, recognises a rare, high-value startup — a 'unicorn' — in Willa’s breakthrough. Aaron Loeb's play, written by someone with business experience, crackles with quickfire patter between May and Paul, and there's a Mamet-esque sparring that recalls Glengarry Glen Ross.

Chelsea Walker's pacey direction keeps much of the action in Paul’s Silicon-Valley-style office, complete with sofa, smoothie-maker and slick screen interfaces, while Rosie Elnile’s design reconfigures itself in seconds as scenes jump from the Covid era to an undefined near future.

venture capital, startup, unicorn, san francisco, precrime, cancer prediction, theatre review, aaron loeb, chelsea walker, silicon valley