Ethan has been betrayed by women before. Instead of adapting his high expectations, he retreats into schizophrenia, projecting everything he could want from a woman onto a blow-up doll called Monica. This production is an uncomfortable mix of comedy and psychosocial drama, moving from a convincing depiction of the psychological trauma inherent in marrying an inflatable to a man immolating himself, all within the first five minutes. But for the rest of the play the doctor who is supposed to help this damaged character embarks on a pantomime routine of stealing his inflatable wife. If this is dark Scottish comedy, it is terrifyingly so. If not, then Ethan’s convincing performance is undermined by a very strange play.

theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, 3-11 Aug (not 5), 4.20pm.
tw rating 2/5 | [Thom May]