Menopause: The Musical

Reviewed at The Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle

WHEN four different women are thrown together at a lingerie sale in a well-known London department store, it seems as though they have little in common. One is a shrewd business woman, one a vegan Earth mother, one a successful soap star and one a dowdy housewife from Skegness.

However, over a fight for a black lace bra, they discover that they have a few more things in common than they first thought: memory loss, hot flushes, night sweats, and a craving for chocolate, to name but a few!

Cheryl Baker, who many will remember from her days as one quarter of the Eurovision-winning pop group Bucks Fizz, leads a fantastic cast including ‘Allo ‘ Allo’s Sue Hodge, Susie Fenwick and Ellen O’Grady.

The laughs come thick and fast as writer Jeanie Linders casts a satirical glance over all things associated with ‘the change,’ and ensures that the menopause is no longer seen as ‘the silent passage.’

Many well-known songs, such as ‘I Will Survive’, ‘My Guy’ and ‘I Got You, Babe’ are re-worked with new lyrics in this joyful musical parody that had the predominantly-female audience cackling with delight – and , no doubt, recognition.

The performances were faultless and every member of the cast proved themselves to be fantastic singers. But, it was their comedic antics that really pleased the crowd, and, in this respect, Sue Hodge almost stole the show with her interpretation of a fat, frumpy middle-aged woman from the Midlands.

By the finale, every member of the audience was up on their feet singing, clapping along and celebrating their femininity – mood swings and all!

Steve Burbridge.

‘Menopause: The Musical’ runs at The Tyne Theatre & Opera House until Saturday 20^th June, before touring to Portsmouth, Horsham, Lincoln and Malvern.