Scottish playwright David Harrower has written an intense, thought-provoking play based on an actual sexual incident between a 40-year-old man and his 12-year-old neighbor. Under the taut direction of Tony Estrella, Jim O’Brien plays the tormented Ray, opposite Madeleine Lambert as the emotionally confused Una.

The 90-minute, one-act play never lets up in intensity, as Una tracks down Ray, who has changed his name and started a new life in a new town after spending time in prison for an “unspeakable act,” having sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old girl. The confrontation takes place in a messy factory break room, where the situation turns quite messy.

Una came across Ray’s photo in a trade magazine and traveled a great distance to confront him. At first he avoids her and refuses to deal with her. She persists, and he eventually breaks down. Emotions soar from anger to guilt, to caring and not caring.

Fifteen years have passed, but the raw emotions are still there, brought to the surface by a persistent Una, who won’t let go.

“I’m not one of them,” Ray insists, as he can’t accept the fact that he was a child abuser of the worst sort.

In a long soliloquy, Una recalls that fateful night when Ray took her to a motel, had sex with her and abandoned her, leading to his arrest, trial and imprisonment. I could see the play being made into a movie, with that scene shown in a flashback.

The play is filled with conflicting emotions as the two “victims” try to deal with what happened and the negative effect it had on both their lives. It is evident that there are still feelings for each other. While both lives have been ruined, each tries to go on and make some meaning out of the incident.

Reading the program, we know that there is a part for young Ally Gower, and when she appears in the closing scene, everything changes.

There is no question that this is a controversial play, but it is presented head on, while leaving plenty of room for you to make your own judgments and draw your own conclusions.

How you feel about Una and Ray may be different from the person sitting next to you. Their characters bring a lot of baggage to the break room.

One thing is for sure, you will be glued to the stage for 90 minutes, thanks to two tremendous performances by Lambert and O’Brien.

“Blackbird” is at Pawtucket’s Gamm Theatre through June 1. Tickets are $38 and $48. Call 723-4266 for reservations.