The four women characters are, as the euphemism goes, women of a certain age (les femmes d'un certain age), or in their "second adulthood."

That means they are in their 50s, in the postmenopausal stage, no longer spring chicks but not that old either, and ready to reinvent themselves, to go into new projects, and to have new experiences with their husbands, lovers or what have you.

Thus, the sex comedy-musical "We're Still Hot!" by JJ McColl, an off-Broadway play, with the melodies synthesized and arranged by Rueben Gurr. The Philippine production was announced at a recent press conference at the Prince of Jaipur Restaurant in The Fort, Taguig City.

And since the topic was primarily sex that day, a resource person, Dr. Eileen Manalo, an OB-gynecologist and infertility specialist of the Philippine General Hospital, stole the thunder from the producers and the performers present.

"I don't want to be misquoted," she said. "I'm a Catholic, and a member of Couples 
for Christ." But she spoke forthrightly, and gamely answered questions about sex.

One singer asked if oral sex was bad for the throat. "No," Manalo replied.

"Ay, salamat (Thank you for that)," the singer intoned. I think she was... but I couldn't be sure because her back was turned to me.

"Romance is a better aphrodisiac," the physician observed. "A red rose from your husband is a better aphrodisiac than a sex video. [Also] if you don't use it [your sex], you'll lose it. The vagina will collapse."

In answer to a question on whether middle-aged men can keep up with women sexually, Manalo noted: "Fact is, women are hot but men are taking medicines which debilitate them... Men die earlier of heart disease."

She added, "We are the stronger sex because we have to bear the children of the world."

Manalo quoted from a study that showed 29 percent of women have sex five times a week. "It's a French study," she hastened to add.

Oh, yes, we were talking about the play. It stars Pinky Marquez, Shamaine Centenera, Lyn Sherman and Niña Romualdez. They play school chums who are reunited after 35 years, and as they interact again, their stories unfold through song and dance. They unburden themselves to one another.

One feels life has passed her by, another is a single mother. A third longs for life, a fourth is struggling financially. And so on. There's a lot of comedy, but pathos, too.

An unseen male character turns to be a link among the four, and he is a heel. Aha, is this a sexist play in reverse?

The play is produced by Bahaghari Productions, and its four officers are also women of a certain age: Carmita Francisco, Margie Moran Floirendo, Maan Hontiveros, and Romualdez (also one of the performers).

"We're Still Hot! The Musical" opens on March 17 at the new Teatrino, Greenhills, San Juan, and will run for four weekends until April 8.

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