He's a clever one, that Mike Bartlett. Not only does he have the most talked-about play in London with King Charles III at the Almeida, but he has also delivered this playful two-hander – a mischievous, deceptive look at friendship in its many forms. It's framed as an old-fashioned comedy double act and has knowing fun with Watford's old-style, red-velvet surroundings.
A and B (who could be played by any actors of any age, gender or ethnicity) are very different, but when they met at a party they just clicked. They are good foils for each other, like Morecambe and Wise. The excellent Rachael Stirling plays A, who is bright and funny with a vulnerable edge, particularly when she drinks too much. Which she does, quite a lot. B, played by John Hollingworth, is a bit dull, more of the stooge, but A makes him more sparky. They work well together and are mutually supportive.
Or are they? The relationship is no longer quite as special as it once was. B has made a new alliance: he's got a girlfriend called Hannah. B predicts it will end in tears. B says that A has a drink problem. Things fracture when A goes on a march to protest against the government's military intervention in another country, while B supports the war.
On one hand, this can be seen as a funny, sad play about the need to look after each other. It's a work that reminds you to call that neglected friend. But the personal is political here, too; A and B are people, but their relationship could represent the bonds between countries. With so many conflicts in the headlines, this punchy play provocatively questions our responsibilities as friends and citizens who sometimes let each other down.
• Until 3 May. Box office: 01923 225671. Venue: Watford Palace.
