South Africa was anything but a fair country two decades ago, and that's what Jon Robin Baitz's drama of the same name gets across, as it tells of a family torn apart by a father's decision to choose safety over humanity. A Fair Country had its premiere at Lincoln Center Theatre (LCT) in February, 1996 and now finishes its scheduled run at Boston's SpeakEasy Stage, Apr. 25, after starting previews Apr. 9 and opening Apr. 10. Paul Daigneault directs.

Baitz's play tells of a man who bends his principles too far attempting to make a better life for his family. Designing the production are Susan Zeeman Rogers and John Malinowski.

"One of the interesting things about [Baitz's] writing," said Scott Zigler, who directed the show at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre (summer 1997), "is how he looks at families in the context of the larger world. His families have an abundance of love and want what's best, but social, political and economic pressures force them to make choices that alienate them from one another."

Other Baitz plays include Three Hotels and Mizlansky-Zilinsky Or, Schmucks, now at Manhattan Theatre Club. The 7-year-old SpeakEasy Stage has presented such varied works as Love!Valour! Compassion!, Porcelain and Once On This Island.

For tickets to A Fair Country at SpeakEasy Stage's home at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont St., call (617) 426-0320.

-- By David Lefkowitz and Ellis Nassour