THEATRE

The Shallow Entertainment Tour

Underbelly, Bristo Square (Venue 302) The writer, Sören Bergen, isn’t here tonight, so the script for this one-man show is being performed by someone else – or so we are told. However, anyone who’s seen any of the previous shows by the mysterious Scandinavian sitting in front of us will have their doubts.

It starts with a similar setup to last year’s piece, but then develops into a mystery story about small-town attitudes, as the writer searches for his missing girlfriend, known as “untruthful Mona”. Our narrator, meanwhile, has a couple of nicknames, one of which includes the word “psychopath”.

Cleverly chosen music bubbles beneath the narration, as the words are dispassionately delivered in a way that’s both monotone and moving, and full of imagery from everyday provincial life.

When the only man in the audience refuses to read Mona’s diary, it feels like a piece in the puzzle fails to fit. Nothing is real, we are told a few times, and the script has been altered for legal reasons. Apparently, “we are the people who can make sure this love story has a happy ending”. It would be intriguing to find out more about how – although there’s apparently an opportunity to continue the interaction online…

SALLY STOTT

Until 26 August. Today 10:50pm.