“Extremely powerful.” — New York Stage Review
“Heartfelt.” — The New York Times
“Belfast Girls offers a welcome fresh perspective on the myths that still dominate popular narratives about the immigrants of a previous era.” — TheaterMania
Reviews of professional productions in Chicago and Vancouver, 2017:
“Jaki McCarrick’s captivating play Belfast Girls tells the story of five young women who escape starvation in 1850 Ireland by winning passage on a ship bound for Australia as part of Earl Grey’s ‘orphan scheme.’ McCarrick examines themes of class division, race and misogyny through the turbulent journey of these women’s lives which are in one moment heartbreaking and the next humourous.” — Vanvouverpresents.com
“Here is an incredible play… The script was incredible and fulsome, the characters totally well flushed out. While the subject matter was deep, the emotional levels allowed the experience to be both enjoyable and moving. The play is an exploration of women moving to other peoples' land to start a new life where their lives in Ireland were horrendous, because acts of colonization (the exportation of their food sources for the privileged people's enrichment and/or enjoyment) was literally starving them to death ... chilling.” —
Karen Tsang"A really powerful ensemble piece." — Vancouver Sun
"The timing of Belfast Girls and its story of 1850 Irish women emigrating to Australia is perfect in 2017." — Brokenlegreviews
"The strength of McCarrick's themes point to the likelihood of its becoming a popular addition to the regional circuit... Highly recommended." — Windy City Times
"...a thought-provoking work of historic fiction and tremendous imagination." — Theatre World Internet Magazine
"McCarrick provides all these injustices with human faces... and provides a fine study of characters and their world. Recommended." — The Chicago Critic