If you decide to see Art with an old pal, beware, for this insightful depiction of friends at war strikes a cord and there were many furtive glances between those leaving the theatre.

The play by Yasmina Reza has been going for the best part of a decade and, as well as being a West End hit, has toured nationally and internationally.

It took London by storm, winning both the Olivier Award for Best Comedy and the London Evening Standard Award for Best Play. In the US, it was awarded a coveted Tony Award two years later.

There has been an ever-changing cast playing the three roles, including stars as varied as Albert Finney, Patrick Duffy and Jack Dee.

Each brought a fresh and original perspective to the timeless tale of one character's purchase of a piece of abstract art and his friends' negative reaction to it.

This production stars Nigel Havers as the pretentious modern art lover Serge, Leigh Lawson as the straight-talking but controlling Marc and Roger Lloyd-Pack (best-loved as Trigger from Only Fools And Horses) as the diplomatic and eccentric Yvan.

On the face of it, this could be a discusssion about contemporary art but the plain white painting is just the catalyst for an exploration of the relationship between three good friends and what they really expect of each other.

There is genuine pathos in the depiction of a breakdown in understanding which results from this simple yet effective premise, with comic speeches and scenarios helping the audience to delve deep into each characters' fears, frustrations and oddities.

My favourite was the long-suffering Yvan and his determination to dodge the wrath of the other two with his peculiar brand of diplomacy.

This behaviour reflects both an element of weakness and a good-hearted desire to make things nice, yet tragically does not save him from bitter abuse from the others.

Yet everyone will have their favourite and relate to one of the three men in the middle of playground petulance.

Each part has been exceptionally well cast and each character is guaranteed to remind you of someone you know, if not yourself or your best friend.