Menopositive play mimics emotional ride of life

By Mike Zettel
Niagara This Week
November 3, 2009

The roller coaster ride women experience when going through menopause is the subject of a hilarious play being staged next week to benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Menopostive: The Musical is something of a play within a play, or at least a revue within a play. It centres on a group of four women in their 50s staging a revue for their 35th high school reunion.

It is based on playwright J.J. McColl’s experiences recording dozens of women at pot luck dinners.

Given the title, it should come as no surprise the play takes the audience all over the emotional spectrum.

“It takes you on a roller coaster ride of life,” said director Wendy Mackie, whose theatre company, Granny M Productions, is bringing the play back after staging it last year.

“Their lives aren’t anything like what they thought in high school,” Mackie added. “It’s just high and low emotion.”

If there’s a dominant emotion for the audience, it’s laughter. Mackie said when it was staged last year for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, representatives were very eager to have it brought back, figuring it fit well with their charity.

“It’s very funny,” she said. “They had a scream when they came.”

Mackie said the musical appeals to women, just as the disease breast cancer primarily affects women.

However, she said, men, particularly husbands who, in a way went through menopause with their wives, are also entertained.

“Men really enjoyed this show when they came,” Mackie said. “They say ‘I remember that.’”

There’s a few changes to this year’s production, chiefly the venue. Rather than the cozy Port Mansion theatre, it has been moved to the 520-seat auditorium at Governor Simcoe Secondary School.

Also different is the inclusion in the cast of Mackie herself.

“I’m wearing many hats,” said the director-actor-producer. “I’d rather be on stage rather than anything else. It’s way more fun.”

The benefit performance takes place Friday, Nov. 13, starting at 8 p.m. Prior to the show, there will be a silent auction and a reception with refreshments starting at 6:30 p.m.