"Three couples. What might be. What once was. What could have been."In point of fact, reflective consideration rarely has an opportunity to break through the rapid fire and combative nature of the dialogue delivery, but in a way this helps the piece realise its potential; by removing the "therapist in the room" the script really fires as a tool in the mouths of each protagonists.
The modernist, spartan playing area - which surrounds a field of uniform swivel top stools, on which the audience have freedom of movement to face their chosen protagonist during exchanges - is simple and effective, allowing few, if any, distractions from the sometimes cripplingly knowing and astute dialogue.
It is by presenting work such as this, that The Royal Court maintains its place at the cutting edge of new writing for theatre.
The Other Palace, until recently the St James Theatre prior to a takeover by Andrew Lloyd Webber, has been re-conceived as a home for new and recent musicals.