Fringe review: STRATEGIC LOVE PLAY, Paines Plough - Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Photo credit: Pamela Raith

So they've both swiped right. Now they're meeting for the first time. Facing each other. As if that's a normal thing to do. But she's being uncomfortable, and he's a total bore. The vibe is horrific and the banter is even worse. But something is keeping them in their seats. Something is making them stay. Welcome to your hot date. With acid wit, this new play takes a scalpel to modern romance, interrogating what we really talk about when we talk about love.

Written by Miriam Battye, Strategic Love Play looks at what we should say on a first date, rather than what we actually say on a first date. Dates are weird, right? You have to be all the nice things about you, in an exaggerated way, so that the other person likes you, and in turn they're doing the same. Why?

Letty Thomas plays Her. The straight talking deliverance is laced with just enough sass that we actually really like her. She's honest, maybe a bit too much, but why not? It's a confident portrayal of being herself.

Archie Backhouse is Him. He's quiet, possibly wondering how to get out of this awful situation, we think he's a bit of an idiot, but is that really his fault? He gives away just enough about himself in just the right amounts.

With clever set and costume design by Rhys Jarman, complementing the turntable of opinions and emotions played out, this is a generous production all round.

A delight to watch.

***** Five stars

Reviewed by: Rachel Louise Martin

Strategic Love Play plays in Roundabout at Roundabout @ Summerhall at 5.20pm until 27 August.