Theatre/ Bombshells. At The Q, until July 27. Reviewed by ALANNA MACLEAN.

In the sure hands of director Jordan Best and a top six-woman cast Joanna Murray-Smith’s Bombshells (which can also be played as a one-woman show) has a terrific impact. 

It’s a series of insightful, hilarious and often moving monologues, each by a woman at a particular age and crisis in life.

Each occupies a section of the Q’s broad stage, with a suitably personalised set by designer Roz Hall, appropriate costumes by Jens Nordstrom and some imaginative lighting by Jacob Aquilina.

The  first is Meryl, a struggling mother with a new baby and some difficult older kids. Amy Kowalczuk’s accurately frazzled performance makes it clear she reckons she’s not getting much help from spouse or anyone.

Then there’s Kate Harris as a spiky and nervous Tiggy, middle-aged, giving a lecture on cactus growing (complete with slides), and gradually revealing that this is really all a bit of a metaphor for her feelings about a husband who has moved out and moved on.

Sally Taylor as young Mary bounces around with all the confidence in the world as she takes on the school talent quest (and a rival who might not play fair) in a pseudo Cats number.

Ella Buckley catches the developing awareness of bride Theresa, progressing from idealism to a much less positive view of marriage realities and all between putting on the dress and taking the vows.

And Lainie Hart comes in strongly as the world-weary glamorous American singer, a survivor, doing an Australian tour and revealing more than the audience might care to know about her life.

But it’s Alice Ferguson as ageing widow Winsome who runs away with the show. She’s got stiff competition, but Ferguson gives a particular power to Winsome’s stories of widowhood and reading to the blind, and a special encounter with someone who perceives her needs.

Bombshells is not the seven ages of man but the six ages of woman and Echo Theatre have done a splendid job of it.