Harry has a simple theory about men and women.

"No man can be friends with a woman he finds attractive," he says.

This straight-talking New Yorker has more than enough time – years in fact – to explore his thoughts.

In When Harry Met Sally, an adaptation of the 1990 film, we track the sparky friendship between him and Sally, a new arrival to the city.

Across a decade of their lives, we see the pair – first in animosity, then in genuine friendship – measure the relationships each have with others.

It's a meeting between two very different characters – the urbane, laid-back Harry and the borderline neurotic Sally – which makes for a brilliantly enjoyable drama.

The show, which runs at Hull New Theatre until Saturday, has achieved a rare success. In a long line of recent screen to stage adaptations – of which some have stuttered (Dad's Army), or fallen flat ('Allo, 'Allo) – this adaptation holds up well in its own right.

It's partly the strength of the script, in which writer Marcy Kahan has kept the barbed lines of the original screenplay.

But it's just as much the performances from the two leads, Rupert Hill and Sarah Jayne Dunn.

As Harry, Rupert affects a cynical stance towards the world – labelling Sally as the type of person who'd "dot i's with hearts" – before revealing himself as somebody a lot more vulnerable.

Sarah embodies the brittle, fiery Sally, who is desperately searching for "the one".

There's also strong support from a cast of minor characters – not least Luke Rutherford as Jack, Harry's equally cynical and loveless best-friend.

Taking place on a simple stage set – with the backdrop a vast photo of Manhattan – this production homes in on the quirks of these characters.

They might all be highly focused, and a little ruthless at times in their pursuit of relationships, but they are all vulnerable, despite that. It's this soft centre that makes this group of New Yorkers loveable in their own way, and makes this comedy a success.

When Harry Met Sally is on at Hull New Theatre, Kingston Square, Hull, until Saturday, 7.30pm. Matinees tomorrow and Saturday, 2.30pm.

Tickets are £8-£20, call (01482) 226655.