PROLIFIC playwright Harold Pinter could turn his hand to many aspects of the written and spoken word, with no small degree of success.

Premiered at The Hampstead Theatre in 1960, this short play was an instant hit with critics and audiences alike and transferred within six weeks to the larger Royal Court Theatre.

This Sheffield-based company comprises Andrew Turner, a familiar face to followers of Coronation Street, having fairly recently reprised his role as Christian Gatley, Hayley’s son, and David Dobson who also boasts a full back-catalogue of professional performances and the two combine here to great effect in this regularly-performed two-hander.

With Turner as producer and Dobson directing, the play is set in a drab basement bedroom, with little more than two camp-beds for furniture.

Ben (Dobson) is relaxing, making occasional remarks about articles in the newspaper, whilst Gus (Turner) is agitated and unable to relax.

The dialogue drops gentle hints as to why the two are waiting.

The fact that both have pistols leads us to the conclusion that they are assassins, awaiting the call to carry-out their latest kill.

Everything the oik-ish Gus does or says increasingly annoys the initially-chilled Dobson, but gradually the cracks begin to show.

The toilet that doesn’t flush properly, the radio that occasionally crackles into life (a nice added touch) and the bizarre food orders that arrive on the dumb-waiter are all excellent effects.

The gauche Turner acts with his whole body, whether getting dressed in a clumsy fashion, showing little or no sense of style, or in delivering his lines.

The sharply-dressed Dobson is as cool as a cucumber but eventually snaps when he finally tires of his partner-in-crime and his reaction is dynamic and realistically portrayed.

Both deliver their lines impeccably clearly and the end, when it comes, is worth the wait.