IF you’re worried about getting older, 5@50, the Royal Exchange Theatre’s latest production, is definitely one to avoid.

Try as I might I can’t imagine a worse advertisement for the ageing process.

People endure second rate relationships for fear of ending up alone and carefree chatter gives way to talk about ailments.

Brad Fraser’s latest play follows five female friends as they celebrate the big five o.

Central to the plot is Olivia, an acid tongued alcoholic who lives with her lesbian lover Norma.

Olivia has a remarkable gift for turning any celebration sour and, despite her booze fuelled outbursts, her friends and partner stick by her.

As with all Fraser plays, 5@50 has some wonderful, witty lines in it but for some reason, it’s impossible to get excited about the plight of those on stage.

In fact, on more than one occasionm I found myself wishing one of the ladies would stop Olivia’s mouth with one of the bottles she drains with such frequency, just for a few minutes peace.

Olivia has to be one of the most unsympathetic characters i’ve ever encountered on a stage, anywhere.

Jan Ravens, a delight in real life, steals the show as Olivia and Teresa Banham is exceptional as the long suffering Norma.

5@50 is by no means the worst play you’ll ever see but after the superb True Love Lies, the last Fraser offering to be produced by the RET, it does have a feeling of after the Lord Mayor’s Show.

* Until May 14. The box office is on 0161 833 9833.