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Menopause The Musical
By Jeanie Linders
Directed by Kathryn Conte
Co-Directed and Choreographed by Patty Bender
At Apollo Theater
2540 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
Call 773-935-6100, tickets $46.50; senior discounts available; group discounts for 15 or more,
Call (847) 673-0150
Tuesdays at 8 p.m.
Wednesdays at 2 & 8 p.m.
Thursdays & Fridays at 8 p.m.
Saturdays at 5 & 8 p.m.
Sundays at 3:30 p.m.
Running time: 90minutes, no intermission
Open run
For a rocking good time, bring your girlfriends to Menopause The Musical.
Oh, and bring the waterproof mascara because you’ll laugh so hard, you’ll cry. With humor and compassion, writer, producer and lyricist Jeanie Linders has captured the experiences of Everywoman in her 40s and 50s. Remember all those great songs of the 50s, 60s and 70s--full of love and teenaged angst? Linders has rewritten their lyrics to reflect our mature experience, exploring the ways in which our bodies, our emotions and our spirits change with the Change. When you don’t recognize yourself in these hilarious lyrics, you’ll recognize a friend.
Kathryn Conte has directed an energetic production that engages its audience from the opening battle over a black bra on sale at Bloomingdale’s through the cleverly-staged dressing room finale that affirms the common experiences and friendships of women. Miranda Clark’s set is Bloomie’s-elegant and versatile, giving the action scope for all the shopping, dining and dancing the new friends enjoy. Co-director, Patty Bender, choreographs so well that the audience literally rocks in their seats along with the movements of the actors, until invited onstage to dance in earnest at the musical’s close.
There’s a bit of Everywoman in each of the characters. Satori Shakoor, as the corporate executive Power Woman, is well cast with her powerful voice and movements. In a show of great performances, Shakoor’s amazing impersonation of Tina Turner singing “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” stops the show. Megan Cavanaugh’s mobile, expressive face would steal the show in a production with a less talented cast. As Earth Mother, she knows all the techniques for centering herself and uses them often as the menopausal madwoman inside threatens to take over. Cavanaugh is a gifted comic, with superb control and timing. Judy Blue sizzles as Soap Star, coming to terms with her fading beauty, particularly as she sashays through “Tropical Hot Flash.” Jeanne Croft skillfully portrays Iowa Housewife’s habitual retiring sweetness struggling against raging hormones and a heightened sex drive.
Musical director, C. T. Hollis, makes sure the house is jumping with great arrangements of old favorites. The band rocks, with Shannon Farmer on keyboards, Phil Martin on drums and Kevin Tkacz on bass guitar.
If you are a woman of a “certain age” and want to feel a great surge of energy when you leave the theatre, head to the Apollo Theater to see Menopause The Musical. If you love a woman going through the change and want to understand her better, there are few more enjoyable ways to conduct your research.
Highly Recommended
Leslie Fischer
lesliebill@chicagocritic.com for comments
Date Reviewed May 15, 2005
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