THIS powerful production by one of Britain's greatest contemporary writers is another triumph for the Library Theatre.

It is a political play about two people espousing very different philosophies while at the same time exposing their deep frailties and weaknesses.

On the one hand we have Tom, the businessman, the capitalist, the accumulator, who has recently seen his wife die from cancer.

On the other we have Kyra, Tom's ex-lover, who abandoned the high life to parachute into a run down area to teach youngsters in a run down school.

The dramatic conflict is the struggle between two ideals, brilliantly illuminated by terrific performances from Kathryn Hunt and Richard Heap.

Tom visits Kyra, temporarily invading her new world and tries to persuade her to go back with him.

Kyra is determined to carry on with her mission of helping the needy school children in her charge. Political speeches are woven into observations on the complexities of relationships, but it is not as simple as the capitalist being bad and the liberal being a saint.

Sometimes it's difficult to know who's side to be on. Tom is exposed as selfish and insensitive, but equally he exposes Kyra's holier than thou morality of the charity worker, wearing her liberal clothes like a hair shirt.

For someone who appears to have set himself up as a moralist of our age, writer David Hare doesn't seem to offer many clear cut answers, but then again why should he?

We are left wondering at the end when Tom's son Edward, wonderfully portrayed by Shane Hickmot arrives to provide a taste of Kyra's old life, whether she has temporarily or permanently abandoned her moral mission. Dave Toomer

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