Yup, this play has been around since 2001, but I saw it for the first time last Saturday night. As the playbill states, Menopause the Musical has been seen by nearly 11 million women in over 250 cities in 14 countries. Obviously, I’m a bit late to the party, but it was worth it.
The play cleverly and hilariously parodies popular songs – the refrain Chain, Chain, Chain from “Chain of Fools” becomes Change, Change, Change; “Stayin’ Alive” transforms into Stayin’ Awake; “I’m Sorry” morphs into I’m Flashing, and “Puff, The Magic Dragon” is now Puff, My God, I’m Dragging. And “Good Vibrations”….well, that one didn’t have to be altered much to get the point across!
Honestly, I didn’t think I would enjoy this play as much as I did. Remember when Geraldine Ferraro ran for Vice President in 1984 and some concerns were expressed that she would be too moody, or would have hot flashes at critical times? And, having read Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique and Germaine Greer’s The Female Eunuch, and taking a course as an undergraduate (in the 1970s) where our textbook was Our Bodies, Ourselves, I grew up believing that women were men’s equals, and menopause was a natural part of a woman’s life, not something to be feared, ridiculed, or marking the beginning of the end of memory, bodily control, and/or attractiveness. (Menopause and midlife crisis are listed as synonyms in the 2010 edition of Roget’s Thesaurus!)
But…I have to admit, the play sucked me in – four likeable strong females played the roles of a professional woman, a soap opera star, an “earth mother” and a housewife (a term I still detest). And, in addition to the creative and fun lyrics, the play ends on an uplifting song of strength and female solidarity, “A New Attitude.” If it comes to a theater near you, I’d recommend seeing it with some female friends – a good women’s night out.
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If your going to be financially secure enough to venture out and see whats available in the B & B field...take your time and check it out. If you have to jump into a job..just to have one..you will not be happy. Hope you get the time to find wh
Oh, I couldn’t agree more! I am a Gynecologist, have seen it 3 times with different friends and INSIST my patients attempt to see it! Can’t wait for it to come back to our area! Thanks for bringing back fun memories!
I want to see it so bad and yes it would be a good womens night out. Thanks for the suggestion.
Ok the closest location is several hours away, I hit the website and requested it to be closer. NOt that it will do any good but you don’t get unless you ask.
I saw the play several years ago in Los Angeles. It was truly hilarious! And boy oh boy did it make me feel good to know that all that stuff is so common they made a musical out of it! It was very cleverly written and performed.
We noticed that there were only a handful of men in the audience (with their wives/girlfriends). They were laughing just as hard as all the women in the audience. But I’m betting they were forced into going. I just can’t picture my husband telling his friends that he went to see Menopause, The Musical.
The male counterpart to this play is ‘The Male Intellect. An Oxymoron’. We have seen it twice. Once in Denver and once in Los Angeles. Both times we were on the floor laughing. (not literally). It’s on DVD if you ever get the chance, but the play is better.
So many times it’s the realities of life that make us laugh the most.
Another suggestion from the male point of view is “Defending the Caveman.” A one-man show that’s been around since 1995; it explores and contrasts male and female perspectives on life.
Jan Cullinane, co-author The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life (Rodale)
Jan Cu
I reviewed Defending the Caveman many years ago and, frankly hated it. It’s a one-joke show and I hate put-down humor, even when the butt of the joke is the one tell it anyway.
What he has is some funny bits, but they depend on the basic assumption that men are only slightly evolved Neanderthals, standing around slack jawed, while women have always been highly verbal, sociable beings, able to concentrate on many things at once. It’s easy to make jokes when you start out with such a premise. But most men and women rarely fit into such handy stereotypical niches, except on sit-coms.
I don’t believe men are that stupid (or, quite frankly, women that superior).
My husband and I saw The Male Intellect. An Oxymoron. several years ago. I agree it was very funny and he talked about it for months afterward. I have heard of Menopause the Musical but haven’t had the chance to see it yet. If it comes around my way, I’ll be sure to go.
JUST LOVED IT. I EVEN BOUGHT THE CD 7& MADE COPIES FOR ALL MY FRIENDS> I remember laughing so hard that my cheeks hurt.
Dear Debanne!!!
Just a friendly advise
Be careful with making CD copies. It falls under copy rights law. Never, ever anouce that you make copies from CD’s you can be sued for unlawful copies..,……..How would you like it if you were the artist and people would make copies from your CD???? You want as an artist make money from CD’s sales. The same is for books, stitching charts, magazine articles( unless you cite the author, because it is not I repeat not your work!). I would suggest you delete your comment about making copies for all your friends, unless you would like to end up in court and paying how many thousend dollars in fine.
Your friend
Elke Eisenmann-Olson
Thanks for the advise, how to I delete my response??
Dear Debanne
I am not really sure, go to the home page and see what you can find, otherwise I would contact the people who ran the website.
Good luck!
Don’t forget No more copies!!!