A play within a play

I went to Harold Pinter’s No Man’s Land the other day, and overheard the following conversation in the foyer during half time.

A couple, relationship hard to establish, mid-thirties, well dressed:

Woman: So, what did you make of the first half?

Long pause.

Man: It was ..… strange...

Long pause.

Man wanders across to other side of the foyer. Stands there for a short while doing nothing in particular.

Woman: (muttering under her breath) It was … strange….?

Man wanders back.

Another long, awkward pause.

Man: This is a good place to stand.

Woman: Yes, it is a good place to stand.

Further pause.

Man: Yes. It is. This, is a good place to stand.

Woman: Yes. Here is a good place to stand.

Further pause.

Man: Hmm. Yes. It’s a good place to stand.

Further, even more painful pause.

Man: Shall we go back to our seats now?

Both wander off.


I certainly didn’t expect to see more Pinter in the interval I can tell you. Good stuff.