Inis Theatre's show about speed dating is not as quick as you might hope. Like an over-eager partner who just won't leave you alone even when you're just not interested, it goes on and on and long outstays its welcome. You can see why the company thought the subject might be worth exploring: Comedy! Tragedy! And the opportunity for performers Iseult Golden and Carmel Stephens to do loads and loads of funny voices and funny walks as they play many different roles, both male and female!
Yep, it's all here as 20 men and 20 women go head-to-head against the three-minute timer, watched over benignly by organisers Siobhan and Seamus who - irony of ironies - just can't bring themselves to admit their love for each other.
The idea is not a bad one, but the structure of the piece is like the speed dating concept itself: you get to meet lots of characters but you never get to know any of them in any depth. Unfortunately - or maybe fortunately - there's no opportunity to meet for a drink afterwards and find out more.
This probably wouldn't matter if the writing was sharper, the scenario wittier and you cared about any of characters. But it takes almost 20 minutes before the first laugh comes and my heartstrings were never plucked. Harmless, but totally unnecessary.
· Until Aug 28. Box office: 0131-226 2428
