John Clancy's satire on modern America's insatiable appetites, where the population gobbles pork chops, sex and consumer durables while the government gobbles up small nations, is big, broad and brash. The word "subtle" does not enter its theatrical vocabulary.
This is a world where Fatboy is a great big bully who, like the US, takes "what I want" and destroys the rest. Played as a zany Punch and Judy show, a theatre within a theatre, the piece has some very nice touches, particularly in its play on theatrical conventions.
But the endless foul language, combined with the relentless cartoon style and a lack of light and shade make the play exhausting, even a touch boring. It pretty well makes its point in the first 10 minutes and spends the next hour jabbing its stubby finger in your face.
The best moments come in a courtroom scene where Fatboy is on trial for war crimes. The justice system proves itself incapable of standing up to his bullying tactics, and he outlines his plans for world domination "leading a coalition of the weak and willing".
But for a writer as intelligent and witty as Clancy, this is pretty obvious stuff. Why dumb down, when you've already proved yourself capable of raising the level of debate?
· Until August 30. Box office: 0131-226 2428.
