Laura, a 38-year-old agency director, throws a housewarming party to celebrate her move into the “Pesto Triangle” of Crouch End, Muswell Hill and Highgate.
When her other guests leave, she prevails on 42-year-old Danny to remain, with a clear – if unspoken – invitation to share her bed.
At first it seems odd that sophisticated Laura should expend so much energy on gauche, blokeish, Danny – not least given his blatant avoidance tactics.
At one point he rejects her advances in favour of clearing up the mess. Gradually it emerges that, as well as a desire for intimacy, she longs for a child and has chosen him as a potential father.
Danny has his own reasons for declining her request, notably his deep anguish at being denied access to his daughter for whom he’s just “a monthly direct debit”.
He fears once she has obtained what she wants Laura will exclude him from her and their child’s life.
Beginning is, by turns, funny, charming and poignant and, at all times, pertinent.
It is written with the wit and emotional honesty that distinguishes Channel Four’s relationship sitcom Catastrophe and is graced with two impeccable performances by Justine Mitchell and Sam Troughton under Polly Findlay’s subtle direction.
Tickets: 020 7395 5405/theambassadorstheatre.co.uk; £18-£75