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Regional Reviews: Phoenix Menopause the Musical Also see Gil's reviews of Anything Goes and Les Misérables
Linders' premise for the show is very simple: Four women meet when fighting over sale bras in the lingerie department of Bloomingdale's, discover they have a lot in common, and bond over a day of shopping throughout the store. Over the course of 90 minutes, the ladies talk and sing about the many changes they are experiencing once they've hit the menopausal years, from night sweats to weight gain, lack of sex drive to hot flashes. Linders' idea to use popular songs with rewritten lyrics is a good one, since familiarity of the music turns them into toe tappers. She turns "Chain of Fools" into "Change of Life," and "Heat Wave" into "Hot Flash." "Stayin' Alive" becomes "Stayin' Awake" and "Night Fever" is now "Night Sweatin'." While none of her lyrics are completely memorable, there are some humorous ones and none are ever cringe worthy. The four characters are basic archetypes, with no names, just listed simply as "Soap Star," "Iowa Housewife," etc., but their character traits and Linders' simple dialogue help establish them as more than just two dimensional roles. The Palms' winning cast also go a long way in creating characters that are identifiable. The show is a true ensemble piece with each woman getting equal time to shine. While they are all talented singers, they also excel in the show's many comic bits. Some highlights: Professional Woman Whitney Hayes has a sassy belt and does a fun Tina Turner impression; Iowa Housewife Eleonore Thomas has a charming disposition and a hilarious time trying to put on some very small lingerie; Earth Mother Donnalynn Waller's constant attempt to use meditation to ward off her mood swings is only matched by her attempt to read a menu, moving it further and further away from her face; and Soap Star Alison Nusbaum has a sultry, sexy "Hot Flash" moment with an audience member. The four ladies appear to be having a blast singing and talking about their problems. They poke fun at themselves while also talking about problems such as hot flashes, weight gain, hot flashes, the use of medication to relieve their problems, and hot flashes. Yeah, these ladies have a lot of hot flashes, which gets a little old before the show is over. That is probably the one major complaint—there is a lot of repetitiveness in the material. Still, with four winning performances and clear and straightforward direction, you kinda just roll with it, sit back and laugh and smile at the fun the ladies are having. Seth Greenleaf, the director, keeps things moving along at a nice pace, allowing for the many musical moments to have as much resonance as the comical ones. Daria Lynn Melendez's choreography provides an abundance of witty back-up dancing and group choreography. With topics that anyone can identify with, whether you've been through menopause or not, like memory loss, restlessness and mood swings, Menopause, the Musical manages to be a show for just about everyone. While women over 40 will probably enjoy it more than others, with a cast of four very strong performers, the Palms Theatre production of the show is a charming, fun and overall winning good time. The Palms Theatre production of Menopause, the Musical runs through March 28th, 2015, at 5247 East Brown Road in Mesa. Tickets and information for this show as well as their series of productions and concerts can be found at thepalmstheatre.com or by calling 480 924-6260 Directed by Seth Greenleaf Cast: (in alphabetical order)
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