Menopause, the Musical

🎟️ Event Review

📍 Quick Facts
• Event Type: Musical Theatre / Comedy Musical
• Location: Jack Singer Concert Hall, 225 8 Ave SE, Calgary, AB
• Duration: 90 minutes, no intermission
• Ticket Info: Tickets required; advance purchase recommended

If you are a woman of a ‘certain age’ and looking for an evening filled with relatable humour and musical comedy, Menopause The Musical at the Werklund Centre might just be the prescription for a fun night out.

The getting-there portion of the night was entirely stress-free. Parking was incredibly easy, and we were able to use the Plus 15 skywalk system to walk directly into the theatre without having to go outside.

It was our first time in the Loge seating, and we weren’t entirely sure what to expect. The Loges are located on the same level as the first row on the balcony, but they put you closer to the stage. You’re still really high up, though, looking down at the performers at quite an angle — almost right over their heads. It’s definitely a unique perspective. Row C puts you closer to the stage but at a bit of an awkward angle, while Row D(+) felt a little better and offered a more comfortable view.

Playing to a full house that was about 90% women, at the beautiful Jack Singer Concert Hall, the energy in the room was electric from the moment the lights went down.

The entire 90-minute show takes place in the lingerie department of a New York City department store. It follows four women from completely different backgrounds — a businesswoman, a housewife, a TV star and a hippie — who meet by chance at a lingerie sale. They quickly discover they share much more than a black lace bra — namely hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats and memory lapses.

Set to a lineup of re-imagined pop classics from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s, the parody songs had the entire audience clapping and cheering.

 ‘Stayin’ Alive’ becoming ‘Stayin’ Awake’

‘Chain of Fools’ becoming ‘Change of Life’

‘My Guy’ becoming ‘My Thighs’

While the musical numbers were funny, the overall story felt a little weak for me. The show has virtually no narrative, relying almost entirely on back-to-back songs with very little spoken interaction or dialogue in between. Because of that, the four characters never really developed beyond their initial stereotypes, and we didn’t get much opportunity to learn who these women were or connect with them beyond the menopause jokes. Things did finally peak during the hilarious vibrator scene at the very end, which was easily one of the funniest moments of the show.

 It was mostly a series of shallow punchlines about hot flashes and brain fog, without much of the deeper humour or emotion that could have made the characters feel more real.

If you are expecting a tightly written narrative like Wicked or Phantom of the Opera, you will probably find Menopause The Musical to be ‘meh’ or even cheesy. But if you go in with a group of friends looking for nostalgic tunes, relatable physical comedy and an excuse to giggle at the realities of aging, you’ll probably have a good time.

📊 Scorecard

• Organization and Flow: 4.5/5
• Engagement & Content:3.5 /5
• Location & Venue Comfort: 4/5
• Value for Money: 4/5
• ⭐ Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars