YOU know you're getting old when you go to see a play and the characters suffering from mid-life crises are the same age as you. Here they're 29, so watch out everyone who was a teenager in the 1990s and thinks they're still young.
Mourning lost youth is a popular theatrical theme, as is disillusionment with long-term relationships, so it's a testament to the warmth and honesty of Paul Charlton's script that he makes such subject matter feel so fresh, radiant and entertaining.
It all starts off with Sam, a typical lad. He likes football, beer and his lovely wife Anna. While he's happy, his days of unpredictable fun are pretty much over, replaced by home-cooked spaghetti bolognese and New Year's resolutions to have sex more and "make an effort".
When Sam bumps into the svelte student teacher Maggie, he is propelled out of his nice-but-dull existence and starts communicating with her through Facebook.
Anna finds out and she's none too pleased, so Sam misguidedly tries to make amends by explaining that he's attracted to Maggie because she's just like Anna used to be – before she let herself go.
This isn't really the explanation Anna's looking for, but it motivates her to embark on a strenuous gym routine to try and regain her lost figure. The conflicts between making the best of one's self and selling out to a world where youth and thinness are paramount are expertly explored through what follows. Meanwhile, Sam's growing obsessions spiral out of control to a truly devastating climax.
Told through two interconnecting monologues, touchingly portrayed by Claire Dargo and Neil Grainger, the play presents a variety of different ways of dealing with age, the expectations of others and relationship boredom. Neither character holds back in the way they fight the onset of such destructive forces, but they don't seem able to conquer them either. It could be depressing that they can't, or impressive that they try – it's left for us to decide.
Charlton won a Scotsman Fringe First award in 2003 and hasn't had a play at the festival since. It's been far too long and it's a joy and a privilege to have him back.
Until 30 August. Today 3:15pm.
