The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Menopause show
It may seem an unusual subject for a musical comedy but the menopause is at the heart of a show that women of a certain age will be able to relate to, as three of its stars tell The Courier
What causes women of a certain age to suffer cold sweats, hot flushes, hormones that rage like tsunamis and mood swings that make them as predictable as the British weather?
No, it’s not watching David Beckham in training – it’s the menopause.
But rather than complain about it, this change-of-life experience has been turned into a fun-filled night at the theatre, complete with songs rewritten to perfectly capture the mood.
Three well-known stars, East-Enders’ Cheryl Fergison, girl group singer Maureen Nolan and Casualty’s Rebecca Wheatley are starring in Menopause The Musical.
The show is full of one-liners about night sweats and memory loss and is backed by a soundtrack of innuendoladen versions of 60s, 70s and 80s pop classics.
The ladies believe sharing this fun night to be therapy for the soul.
This is Cheryl’s second tour with the production and for her, the timing couldn’t be better.
“This show simply had to be made,” she says. “It tells you it’s OK to talk about the subject and I’m delighted because I’m going through the menopause myself at the moment. Until you do, you have no idea it’s such a big thing.”
Cheryl jokes that suddenly, she’s “sprouting a moustache” and adds: “I’ve never been one for creams but I’m looking at them now and thinking: ‘Is this going to make me firmer? Is this going to take my beard off?’”.
She says the production features songs that connect with her state of mind.
“There are songs about getting older
and the inevitability of your body shape changing.
“And I love the fact this show reminds everyone that the menopause makes you emotional.
“I’m not an emotional person but now I am tearing up, all the time, over nothing at all.”
Maureen feels the timing is great for this show.
“Women seemed to be desperate for a great night out,” she says. “And it doesn’t make light of the menopause.
“Rather, it shows you can tackle the raging hot sweats with humour and honesty. I certainly don’t mind anyone knowing I have to have fans in my dressing room, even when it’s cold.
“But what’s really great about this show is that women come up to you and say ‘thank you for making it okay to be over 50’.
“And if men do come to the show, they will understand why their wife, on occasion, has tried to kill them.”
Rebecca echoes her co-stars and says that having a group of women in one hall all able to laugh at the changes they go through during menopause is a “massively uplifting sensation”.
And she is quick to point out that isn’t all bad, as by the time they hit it, most women know so much more about themselves.
However, she does acknowledge the condition can create confusion.
“There was a time when women believed that with the arrival of the menopause their attractiveness departed and sex was a thing of the past. Not now!” she says.
“Years ago, I’d be having a blue rinse at this stage, not getting my hair dyed flame red. But who wants to surrender to middle age? Not me. I want to be a thoroughly disgraceful 50-something.”
Men will understand why their wife has tried to kill them
gritchie@thecourier.co.uk Menopause The Musical runs at Dundee’s Whitehall Theatre on February 9 and 12.
To win two tickets, email whatson@ thecourier.co.uk with your name, address, postcode and “Menopause the Musical tickets” in the subject line. The deadline is noon, Monday.