The Children’s Hour @ The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester

3:05pm Friday 21st March 2008

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From the moment you set eyes on Mary Tilford you feel a deep sense of loathing.

Tilford played by newcomer Katie O' Flynn is one of the central and most villainous characters in the controversial Lillian Hellman play, The Children's Hour.

It follows the lives of two teachers, Karen Wright and Martha Dobie, who have slaved to establish their all-girls boarding school.

However, a malicious whispering campaign started by their disruptive student Mary gets out of hand and they face ruin.

Flynn's performance as the wicked teenager at the centre of the action is electrifying and disturbing at the same time.

She plays a compulsive neurotic liar so well that you begin to question whether she is like this in reality.

Maxine Peake's and Charlotte Emmerson's portrayal of the teachers who are accused of having an affair is emotive, and they flourish into their roles as the play progresses.

Director Sarah Frankcom stages the action on a map of the world, sensing that the lives and world of these two women is unfolding and falling apart in front of them.

The girls used in the boarding classroom scenes are positioned effectively on the edge of the action passing comments like chinese whispers on the next twist in the tale.

Hellman's end for the play is disappointing as a confession is followed by the death of a central character.

Is Hellman saying there is no smoke without fire?

At the Royal Exchange Theatre, St Ann's Square, Manchester, until April 5.

Box office: 0161 833 9833.