KATE O'Flynn is so believable in The Children's Hour that the urge to leap out of your seat and give her a good slap is an overwhelming one.

O'Flynn plays Mary Tilford, a malicious, whiney little attention seeker who spreads a rumour about the sexuality of her schoolteachers.

Her lie spreads like wild fire, wrecks lives and, ultimately, ends in heartbreaking tragedy.

Lillian Hellman's play, which caused a terrible stir when it was first performed in the mid-1930s, is the latest production in what is proving to be one of the Royal Exchange Theatre's best seasons for several years.

The writer tugs at your heart strings without seeming to try too hard and you really feel for Karen and Martha, who lose everything thanks to the poisonous Mary Tilford.

Playing these roles are Charlotte Emmerson and former Shameless star Maxine Peake and both women exude a potent stage presence that makes you hang on their every word.

You could hear the proverbial pin drop in the theatre on press night and one or two sniffles as the piece reached its tearful climax.

The cast also includes an actor who is rapidly becoming one of my favourite thespians - Milo Twomey. He was brilliant in the Exchange's festive production of An Ideal Husband and does his reputation no harm at all as Karen's fiance Dr Joseph Cardin. Like Karen and Martha, Cardin's life is ruined by malicious Mary.

Hellman's writing style may be easy on the ear and deceptively understated, but, before you know it, you find the emotion welling up inside you. The plot of The Children's Hour sort of reminded me of an Arthur Miller play, the theme of a revelation wrecking lives. But this is a writer with a style all of her own and this production has whetted my appetite for more.

The Children's Hour may not be the most action packed play you'll ever see but it is a deeply affecting piece of drama that has stood the test of time. And it certainly gets top marks from me.

Until April 5, tickets are available from 0161 833 9833.