Menopause the Musical - Women On Fire

Back in 2005 at its Melbourne debut, Menopause the Musical audiences were predominantly comprised of middle-aged women. But on opening night a decade or so later there were quite a number of gents prepared to expose themselves to a new frontier, along with a smattering of younger patrons.

Four women, played by Caroline Gillmer (Underbelly), Donna Lee (Beauty & the Beast) Jackie Love (Singin’ In The Rain) and Lena Cruz (Priscilla The Musical), meet in a department store, and while each hails from diverse circumstances, they are united in sisterhood by their shared experience of “The Change”.

Symptom-based subject matter, including memory loss, mood swings, night sweats, hot flushes, incontinence, reduced or increased libido, and physical changes are, after all, set to affect half the population directly, and many more partners, colleagues and offspring along the journey.

Songs are the show’s greatest strength, using fabulously famous anthems to illustrate each menopausal challenge: ‘Change Change, Change’ (Chain of Fools), ‘My Thighs’ (My Guy), ‘Fever’, and ‘My Husband Sleeps Tonight’ (The Lion Sleeps Tonight). Material largely stands the test-of-time, save perhaps for an anthem of adoration for pills, and the negative response to a daughter’s tattoo.

While once or twice the dynamic of the instrumental backing threatened to overwhelm the singer, we didn’t miss a word, and the ensemble work of the cast was decisive and punchy, with fun and comedic choreography to match.

Since its premiere in Florida in 2001, Menopause the Musical has been enjoyed by 11 million people globally. Its popularity is in no small measure due to the ‘sisterhood’ factor rippling through the audience like a blanket of warm acceptance and understanding, ensuring the previously ‘silent passage’ is well and truly out in the open.

Lucy Graham

Images: Caroline Gillmer and Jackie Love. Photographer: Deb Mayes.