Women on the Verge of HRT proves a big hit at the Lowry

Review of Women on the verge of HRT

I last saw this play at the Wythenshawe Forum and enjoyed it so much there that I decided to come along again. A lot of people think because of its title you have to be a female of a certain age to enjoy the production. But as a red blooded male I must concur that he can be equally enjoyed by males as well. Although it has to be said that it was my other wife he persuaded me to go and see it again. You do not even have to be a Daniel O’Donnell fan to appreciate its side splitting humour, but I suppose it helps with some of the humour.

The play is directed by Noreen Kershaw of channel 4’s Shameless fame and wriiten by Marie Jones of ‘Stones in his Pockets’ fame. I know Noreen from her launch of the Manchester Irish Festival and her attention to all things Irish in the play were impeccable. The play is performed by well known TV Stars Louise Jameson (Eastenders, Dr. Who, Bergerac, Tenko) & Janet Dibley (Fat Friends, Where the Heart is, The Two of Us). They play best friends Vera & Anna who during a trip to Donegal to see their idol, Daniel O’Donnell, in concert, come face to face with the realities of their lives – loveless marriages, husbands in the clutches of mid-life crises, the menopause (or should that be ‘mental pause’) and the prospect of being thrown on the sexual scrap heap. The play really starts to spark with the introduction of the waiter, Fergal, played by Aidan O’Neill. Not only does he have the audience believing they have Daniel in the Lowry all to themselves, but he also does a brilliant job of playing the husbands of Anna & Vera along with a number of female characters. His rendition of one of Daniel’s hits had the audience swaying in their seats. I did thing that during the encore he could have come out to sign a few autographs for his adoring female audience.

It was a rib tickling and thought provoking two hours of non stop laughter for both the five males and the female members of the audience. Not all the audience appeared to be on the verge of HRT or major fans of Daniel O’Donnell. Highly recommended tonic for the summer and cannot wait for it to come back and you do not have to be female to enjoy it.

Review by YGG Media solutions for the Manchester Irish Festival website
www.thelowry.com