THIS award-winning play by Martin McDonagh is described as a "contemporary Irish tale of love, passion and temporary insanity".

This makes it sound distinctly odd but hardly prepares you for the heady mix of black humour and grand guignol melodrama centred around an unhealthy mother-and-daughter relationship. It's a bit like Misery meets Whatever Happened To Baby Jane.

Spinster Maureen Folan's life amounts to no more than looking after her sick, but hardly sympathetic, mother Mag. She's at the old lady's beck and call, forever making her porridge or mixing her Complan.

Mag is a cantankerous old woman whose behaviour in deliberately wrecking her daughter's chance of marriage and future happiness makes her a monster. But - and here's the twist - Maureen herself has a dark history that means she's not entirely innocent in this unholy partnership. Their relationship is powered by emotional and physical violence of the most disturbing kind.

Marcus Romer's compelling production is played out on Liam Doona's splendid portrayal of a cottage in County Galway. Here Maureen sees an opportunity for escape in Pato, if only the messages he sends her via Ray can get past her mother's eagle eye. She's been known to burn letters left for her daughter in the past.

Tessa Worsley and Marianne March are terrific as mother and daughter square up to each other. Worsley's ever-demanding, ever-complaining Mag is the mother of all mothers. She doesn't canvas our sympathy, although when unhinged, Maureen finally shows her true colours and the full horror of her situation becomes apparent.

Jamie Beamish and Paul M Meston lend valuable support as the men whose actions precipitate tragedy in this brilliantly funny but deeply disturbing play.

* Until November 27. Tickets (01904) 623568.

Published: 13/11/2004