BWW Reviews: Stellar Cast Brings MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL to the Centaur

By: Jan. 28, 2015
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l to r: Janet Martin (Iowa Housewife),
Nicole Robert (Earth Mother), Michelle E. White (Professional Woman),
Jayne Lewis (Soap Star)

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL, produced by Tony and Drama Desk Award winning GFour Productions, returns to the Centaur Theatre for a limited run. Now in its thirteenth year, MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL has been produced in more than 450 US and Canadian cities, nearly 300 international cities and a total of 15 countries.

Set in New York City's Bloomingdale's, MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL tells the story of four women who meet while fighting over underwear in the lingerie department. After noticing similarities in each other, the four women bond over their experiences while going through "The Change."

Book writer and lyricist Jeanie Linders has taken popular songs from the '60s, '70s and '80s and transformed them into songs relevant to women going through menopause. For example, "Chain of Fools" becomes "Change of Life," "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" becomes "My Husband Sleeps Tonight" and "Wishin' and Hopin'" becomes "Drippin' and Droppin'".

Led by three members of the original Canadian cast, Jayne Lewis,, Nicole Robert and Michelle E. White with new addition and former standby Janet Martin, MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL is geared towards menopausal women. Though I am not quite there yet, I did bring my mom and she, along with the rest of the audience, was hooting and hollering through the entire production. For me, the show became quite repetitve. With just a 90-minute running time with no intermission, the story felt stretched out. There is no denying the camararderie in the theatre, which helped lift me up where moments in the show did not. Perhaps if I fit in the demographic, I would have appreciated it a little more.

Though the story may not have entirely appealed to me, the cast was stellar. All four actresses have incredible singing voices with seamingly endless range. White gives us a pitch perfect, hilarious rendition of "What's Love Got to Do With It" complete with Tina Turner wig and costuming. Robert is the epitomy of the 1960s throwback who refuses to change with the times. Lewis, as the Soap Star, fully embodies the stereotypical lifetime soap opera actress. But it was Janet Martin who stole the show for me when she desperately tried to fit into that itty bitty negligee. Now THAT I identified with. It was a side splitting moment that had the entire audience rolling in the aisles.

MENOPAUSE THE MUSICAL runs at The Centaur Theatre, 453 St. Francois-Xavier, Old Montreal H2Y 2S1 through February 8. Tickets are available by calling (514)288-3161

Photo Credit: Seth Greenleaf



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