“Women on the Verge of HRT”, not a very inspiring title, which may have been why the woman sitting behind me said to her companion , “There are only eleven men in the audience”. The place was packed with expectant women. Mention Daniel O’Donnell and disillusionment and you have the plot of this play by Marie Jones. Set in a hotel in southern Ireland after a concert by the idol of many women, but it seemed from this scenario mostly in their fifties looking for something different.

The play tells the story of two women from Belfast who have come to see Daniel O’Donnell in concert. They sit in their room and discuss their lives and men. They are not satisfied and would like something different from what they have. The “change of life” is uppermost in their thoughts and the feeling that things are coming to an end before they are finished with them. HRT is a solution, but is it what they want. Do they want more sex or something else? The act of growing old is the main culprit which effects both sexes, but it seems in different ways. Anna played by Nicky Goldie is a brash woman with no man in her life and wants one. Vera played by Amanda Hurwitz is a dowdy accepting women with a man in a typical rut. Throw in a young male room waiter, Fergal played by Darren Greer, who looks and behaves like the women’s idol and they are thrown off their normal outburst of expletives about men.

The play aimed at women, says what they want to here. Some of the lines are lost in the women’s Irish accents, but most of what they have to deliver hits home. Darren Greer has a chance to show what he can do and gives a fine singing performance of Daniel O’Donnell in concert, the man that is the placebo. The women are typical of what they are meant to portray and give character acting a good run out. The unoriginal set design by Jessica Stack only just does the job asked of it and sets the mood of the play. Alice Bartlett directs a play that had a second act, but it may just as well have been excluded for what impact it had on the whole.

When a woman finds the perfect man he will be looking for the perfect women or visa versa. The story of life which will be discussed until the end of time. The audience gave applause when the actors took their bows, but they seemed slightly disappointed. Were thy looking for that something extra? © BA

“Women on the Verge of HRT” is in Hull from the 5th to the 21st of June, 2003.