Paul Farnsworth’s design twinkles exquisitely, as rich and fine as spun sugar: gilt, eau de nil and pink, with light glinting through rows of bottles. In the comic performance of the evening, Katherine Kingsley vamps in layers of scarlet. While her cad lover (nonchalantly powerful Dominic Tighe) flirts with a customer, she cuts a length of ribbon as if she were administering a vasectomy. Scarlett Strallen and Mark Umbers charm as the couple who move from awkwardness to adoration. High comedy and pathos are intertwined in a romantically themed restaurant where trays are dropped as often as kisses are exchanged. Kindness is mingled with anxiety among the scent staff. This bijou evening has no lazy moments. She Loves Me is at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London until 4 March (via)]]>