Quintessentially Scottish in both musical influence and melancholy tone, ‘Love Songs for a Timewaster’ is a gentle portrayal of a very unlikely romance.
Two men meet in a bar. One has just had his heart broken by a woman named Caroline, the other, considerably his senior, is comfortable only with “commitment without commitment”. Their story unfolds in songs which do not flinch away from the uncomfortable aspects of the relationship: the age disparity is discussed in frighteningly Freudian terms in the song ‘Son I Never Had’ while the spectre of Caroline and the problem in rigidly defining sexual identities underlie many of the more emotionally charged moments.
The show is not acted out; rather the characters stand at separate microphones while they exchange their lines. It works well, though it is rather reminiscent of watching a recording of a radio play. The music, on keyboard, fiddle and guitar, is perfectly suited to the tone though a little more variety in pace and the use of instruments would have elevated the show as a whole. Iain Heggie’s voice is nothing out of the ordinary, but the emotion in his performance ensures that the songs are pleasant to listen to. This is a show which soothes rather than excites, leaving the audience feeling warmed through.
4/5 
Keira Farrell
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