IN JOSH AZOUZ’S stimulating and at times humorous play, two north Londoners find themselves meeting regularly at their quiet local Mikvah, a Jewish ritual bath, where Eitan (Josh Zare), who’s only 17, develops a crush on 35-year-old Avi (Alex Waldmann).

Despite the older man’s initial resistance, they find themselves breathlessly attracted to the idea of somehow getting together, with the pair pulling backwards and forwards as Avi tries to weigh up the pros and cons of their nascent relationship.

Headstrong Eitan prefers only to look at the pros but it’s not just the age gap that presents Avi with a problem. He’s married to a woman he loves and they’re preparing to have a baby.

He’s also a religiously observant pillar of the local Jewish community, with a reputation to sacrifice should he recognise his latent homosexuality and take a step away from what he already has.

There are no other characters in the play and interactions with the outside world are related only second hand by the two players who, on occasion, voice their own stage directions.

For much of the time, Waldmann and Zare are unclothed in a water-filled Mikvah and they work effectively and compellingly as polar opposites. The mature Avi is  comfortable and confident in his body and surroundings, while the wiry, immature Eitan, still contemplating the world, is perpetually on edge and unsure.

Yet, as events unfold, it is he who becomes most at ease with his sexuality and, with little to lose, becomes the more assured of the two. Avi, who has a lot further to fall, wrestles with uncertainty.

Eventually, the pair come to an arrangement that’s clearly not completely to either’s liking but which neatly addresses the play’s core contemplation of whether the heart should rule the head at any cost.

Having had a first outing four years ago at The Yard in London, this is a welcome new production for a thoughtful play, directed exuberantly by Georgia Green and well served by its admirable cast of two.

Runs until March 28, box office: orangetreetheatre.co.uk.