Time dragged in the Paris of the 1770s, in aristocratic circles at least. To help it pass more tolerably the epistolary novel was a godsend: it narrated the sexual intrigues of characters who also had time to kill. Laclos's novel was initially regarded as scandalous in its portrayal of amorality and subsequently read as a critique of pre-Revolutionary decadence. The challenge of a stage adaptation is to convey the attraction as well as repellent qualities of Laclos's characters: Mobil Touring Theatre's production of Christopher Hampton's play only partially succeeds.

The two cynical protagonists, La Marquise de Merteuil (Siobhan Redmond) and Le Vicomte de Valmont (Clive Wood) manipulate those around them for their own amusement. At first they appear to be matched in their callousness, but Merteuil is a superior player of the game. When Valmont falls in love with a virtuous woman, Madame de Tourvel (Sophie Ward), with whom he had intended only to trifle, Merteuil re-exerts her power over him.

Unfortunately, the two central performances fail to convey the sexual allure and complexity of these characters: Merteuil lacks emotional range and her delivery is monotonously high-pitched. Valmont's reluctant emotional capitulation to Tourvel lacks dramatic impact because he had failed to convince us as a dangerous seducer. Lack of subtlety in Peter Wilson's direction of the sexual scenes undermines the brittle wit of the script.

Frequent and unnecessary scene changes in the first half interrupt the flow: after the interval an elegantly rotating set is introduced which improves the pacing. Andrew Leigh's simple set, lighting and costume design have an attractive coherence, but fail to rescue this production from inertia.

Runs until Saturday. Booking: 01-6771717.