While Benjamin Britten was in Tokyo in 1956 he saw the Japanese Noh play Sumidagawa. It became the inspiration for his church parable Curlew River, and in this authentic staging you can imagine why: this story of a woman mad with grief as she searches for her lost son has a grave, stylised beauty.
In Noh, less is more. The prescribed rules and rituals are supposed to offer a freedom. Sound and visuals meet at a place best described as trance. It mesmerises. But played together with a short comic Kyogen play called The Snail - most memorable for its mixture of tartan and Laura Ashley prints combined with lots of energetic hopping - Sumidagawa remains more of a curiosity than a thrilling theatrical night out.
Two hours in Japanese with no surtitles is tough going, and while the evening has visual interest it remains remote, like an artefact in a glass case. There is no way in. Those also seeing Britten's opera may find this a fascinating companion piece, but as a stand-alone theatrical experience Noh is very much a no-no.
· Ends today. Box office: 0131-473 2000
