HAS Ed Thomas’s first play in 15 years been worth the wait?

This joint production between National Theatre for Wales and the Royal Court Theatre, co-directed by the writer and Vicky Featherstone and with Rhys Ifans making his first appearance on stage in his homeland for 20 years, promises much.

But its sub-Waiting for Godot mix of surrealism and realism, coupled with some very “in” Welsh humour ultimately disappoints, though Ifans is magnificent as John Daniels, owner of Bear Ridge Stores, a ruined butcher’s shop on the eponymous mountain.

It’s been in the family and rooted in the community for a century but society has disintegrated around them and the old language is dying.

As jet fighters roar overhead, he and his wife Noni (Rokie Ayola) defiantly shout abuse and wave knives and choppers at the unseen enemy.

Yet while Daniels’s reminiscences about the birth of his son are moving and funny and the narrative is enhanced somewhat with the arrival of Jason Hughes as the Captain and Ayola and Sion Daniel Young as shop assistant Ifan providing able support, this all comes across as largely disjointed and contrived, which the clever wordplay cannot disguise.

Runs until October 5, box office: nationaltheatrewales.org, then transfers to the Royal Court Theatre, London, from October 24 to November 23.