I misread the cast list for Milk and Gall and thought this was the first time I’d read of a Lactation Consultant being listed the way Intimacy Directors are popping up in the credits.  In fact, a Lactation Consultant, here played by Tracy-Anne Green, is American for a Breastfeeding Counsellor and she is a cast member not an advisor to the production!

This exceptional new play by Mathilde Dratwa, who was born in Belgium but who now lives in New York, juxtaposes the mega event regime change of the advent of the Trump presidency with the micro in world terms of the birth of Vera (MyAnna Buring)’s first child.  Of course for Vera, this birth is anything but micro as her life is turned upside down by the new arrival and responsibility for him. As Vera goes into labour with the supportive father of her child, Michael (Matt Whitchurch) in attendance, it is November 2016 and the states are being called either for Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump.  Vera thinks about calling her baby Clint, or Rod for Hillary’s middle name and maiden name Rodham, so as not to be attributed to her husband Bill Clinton. 

Vera has a difficult labour ending up with the double whammy of an episiotomy and a C section.  However she doesn’t know about the third whammy!  It is so difficult that Michael decides to deceive her about the declared election result with its devastating news for all those with tolerant, liberal views and tells her Clinton has won.   

The labour scenes are terribly painful for Vera, Ouch!  but there is so much for the audience to laugh at.  Vera says she’s doesn’t want an epidural but nine lines later she is saying “DON’T TOUCH ME. The drugs! I want the drugs!”  Enter the largest injection syringe and needle I’ve ever seen; of course that is what it feels like in Vera’s mind.  Jenny Galloway makes a splendid obstetrician as well as playing Vera’s mother and Michael’s mother.  The nurse (Tracy-Anne Green) doesn’t seem to have had any empathy training and puts her medical foot into every moment for hypersensitive Vera.