We make choices every day of our lives. Some are deeply mundane like what to watch on TV. Other choices have earth shattering importance and affect the rest of our lives. A path not taken raises questions that can't easily be answered. Yet we can't resist contemplating the 'ifs', a tiny word with a huge meaning. Never is this more apparent than in our personal relationships. What if you bumped into your first love years after the event. The inevitable trigger presents two scenarios, what actually is and what might have been? This thought provoking play by Eugene O'Brien explores these themes and contemplates a love that went to waste.

Mairead (Janet Moran) has travelled back to her home town for the wedding of her sister, Laura. With more than a hint of 'Rip Van Winkle', she barely recognises the place that used to be home. A town on the way to somewhere else and a big plan that never materialised. But some things stay the same. The local pub is throbbing with a pre-wedding party and Davey is still behind the bar. Mairead is there searching for a face she knows in a sea of 'unknowns' and a smattering of 'vaguely familiars'. Her husband Mal (Andrew Bennett) has stayed back at the B & B. He takes things easy after suffering heart problems a few years previously. Back in the pub, Mairead has spotted the love of her youth. But what feelings will he stir inside her. How does it make her feel towards Mal, who is struggling with his own demons and a repressed upbringing?

Heaven is a masterclass in effective storytelling as two good actors bring a variety of characters to life. They regale the audience with tales of Beano, the Hobbit, Flipper and the mysterious 'Jesus'. The language is colourful yet engaging prose that carries the narrative forward. Although technically a two-hander, the characters on stage never interact. They each deliver a series of monologues that are touching, funny and sad. Mairead compares Mal to her first love. Did she really trade passion for comfort and danger for security. Is settling for second best a truly happy ending? This brilliantly constructed play delves into the complexity of relationships and how we try, and sometimes fail to navigate them properly. The Irish tradition for literary excellence is stronger than ever and this play should not be missed.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Brian Penn

Heaven plays at London’s Southwark Playhouse Borough until 22 February, with further info here.