The first appearance on stage together of Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith in 40 years has received a mixed reception from the critics.

The eagerly-awaited West End opening night of The Breath of Life saw two of Britain's best-loved actresses play two women who share a common denominator - a man.

Judi and Maggie's consummate skills saved a work that often bordered on the ordinary

The Mirror's Kevin O'Sullivan

The pull of the Dames has proved so popular that the play had already almost sold out for its run at London's Haymarket Theatre before it opened.

But for some within the press the play overall did not live up to expectations.

The Dames were praised for their "consummate skills" but the script and production came in for the harshest criticism.

'Arid rambling remarks'

The Independent offered one of the most damning reviews, savaging writer David Hare's script.

"What made David Hare think that the two characters' arid rambling remarks amounted to a conversation, much less a play?" it asked.

Dame Maggie plays the former mistress

It is unimpressed by a production which sees Dame Judi Dench play a betrayed wife and Dame Maggie Smith the mistress.

The former love rivals confront their past when the wife turns up at the home of the woman whom her husband kept secret from her for 25 years.

What they both have in common now is that the man they shared has now moved on to a younger model.

But for the Independent the potential of the production is not realised.

"Howard Davies' listless production is like a Zen tennis match - there's a player on each side of the play, one serves, the other responds, but where's the ball?" it continued.

Rave reviews

At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Daily Telegraph loved the play, which features only the two Dames on stage.

Critic Charles Spencer said: "Howard Davies directs a flawless production that finds these great actresses at the very top of their game."

Dame Maggie was highly praised in many of the press reviews for her portrayal of the "other woman".

The Daily Mail said the play's script left Dame Maggie's co-star in the shadows.

It said of Dame Judi: "She has star billing as a support act."

But even its praise of Dame Maggie was tempered by the disappointment that there is no theatrical "head-to-head" between the pair.

And it ultimately found the script lacking in "emotional clout".

Again David Hare's script left the Mirror disappointed.

It praised the Dames but said it was not David Hare's best play.

"Judi and Maggie's consummate skills saved a work that often bordered on the ordinary," it concluded.

The Breath of Life is on at the Theatre Royal in Haymarket until 21 December.