Menopause: The Musical, at Athenaeum Theatre and touring

Change of life never looked as good as it does on stage in the hilarious musical Menopause.

It mashes four strong artistes, delivering power packed vocals on familiar, up-tempo tunes, cleverly reworded, with slick choreography.

Add in colourful lighting, striking sound, easy to navigate staging with smooth transitions between scenes and evocative costuming and you have a hit.

It features four women of a certain age who meet by chance at a lingerie sale at a large, multi-storey department store.

One (Catherine Alcorn) comes from the corporate sector, while another is a housewife (Sally Bourne).

A third in the earthy type (Lena Cruz), while the fourth is desperately trying to cling onto her job as a TV soapie star (Chelsea Gibb).

The latter (who now – shock, horror – has turned 50) is in denial that she has hit the menopause phase of her life.

After at first getting into a scrap as a result of making a beeline for the same items, the women pour out their hearts about their seemingly never-ending symptoms.

Who would have thought ongoing references to hot flushes, night sweats, irritability, forgetfulness, sleep disturbance, mood swings and weight gain could be so funny.

But they are and the audience of largely women, many of whom have experienced exactly those symptoms, revel in the humour and banter between the quartet.

The musical parody, which opened in a tiny, 76-seat theatre in Florida in March 2001, relies heavily on familiar songs from the ’60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.

It has since been seen by more than 17 million people in upwards of 500 cities across 17 countries.

Menopause: The Musical was the brainchild of Jeanie Linders (now passed), who was responsible for the book and lyrics.

The music is drawn from the likes of Aretha Franklin’s Chain of Fools (retitled Change of Life) and Martha and the Vandellas’ Heat Wave (seen here as Hot Flash).

There is Dusty Springfield’s Son of a Preacher Man (reworked as Drippin’ and Droppin’) and The Tokens’ The Lion Sleeps Tonight (as My Husband Sleeps Tonight).

You get the picture: some couple of dozen numbers in all, under the watchful eyes of musical director Ana Mitsikas.

Orchestrations, arrangements and musical supervision is by Damon Wade.

The performers have so much fun with the material, generating healthy cackles of laughter among the audience, who lap it up.

I was so impressed by the vocal proclivity of the singers/actors – each melodic and highly talented.

The show has many delightful moments, when one or another is thrust into the limelight and shines. The harmonies are also particularly ear pleasing.

Among the highlights is Sally Bourne trying to find her way into some sexy blue lingerie and a needy Chelsea Gibb getting it on with an older man in the second row.

The four bounce off each other beautifully and that is not to overlook their sweet moves as they sashay across the stage.

Director and choreographer Cameron Mitchell has done a fine job keeping the hijinks moving as the women traverse floors of the department store.

Menopause: The Musical is eighty minutes of rip tickling revelry that lovingly plays with an issue invariably faced by half the planet.

It is on at Athenaeum Theatre until 6^th September, 2026 before continuing its Australian tour in Newcastle, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra.

For more information and tickets, go to https://menopausethemusical.com.au