“Menopause – The Musical”
A review by Oberon
Are you a woman of a “certain” age? I always felt a man invented that phrase to explain why his once young and adoring wife, girlfriend, significant other – rocketed off the planet of “him” and exploded into an actual equal human, full of expectation, wants and desires and now truly had the b----, well - you know – the courage to seek out a real and actual life starring – God forbid – her!
The question for me about Menopause (female menopause) is – does the foggy haze, the sweats, lack of libido, weight gain, mood swings (and an intense desire to go shopping if you ask me), signify the beginning of a “certain age” of life, or is it just a powerful emergence from a hugely horrific hangover caused by the “overly estrogen - haze phase” called Barbie, Wife and Mother?
Plus, having lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for quite a long time – not in my wildest dreams could I conceive of a casino brave enough to consider any side of this question in the land of Gambling, Booze and women who are never quite young enough to fill the fantasy of the marketable commodity that is their role. Air-brushing the body of a seventeen year old almost fills the dream.
I feel it’s no small nod to the financial impact women are having on their families and the vacations they choose, that the savvy Las Vegas Hilton is showing MENOPAUSE – THE MUSICAL in their Shimmer Cabaret Theatre every night of the week at 7pm and matinee performances Saturday and Sunday at 4 pm and Wednesday at 2 pm.
My Editor, Zaina Hart arranged for us to see the show so that I could review it for our readers and let me tell you – the house was packed and not just with women either – could it be that men are actually seeking the answer to this life re-arranging question? I f they are – this is definitely the way to satisfy curiosity, in a gem of a theatre dressed out in cranberry and fuchsia, purple with vibrant dark blue and black Art Deco Design blessed with a full bar – the perfect enchanting oasis from the Vegas Carne atmosphere.
First order of the night – selling to the audience, charming paper fans (can you say: hot flashes), for $1.00. This ingenious small beginning has garnered over $600,000.00 toward finding a cure for Ovarian Cancer.
This “unstructured” artsy musical simply chronicles the afternoon of four different women who meet in a struggle for lingerie over a sales table at Bloomingdales! This to me is cabaret at its best, with a minimum of clever sets, (various floors of the department store, including a row of bathroom stalls in several scenes that allows for inspired entrances and exits). As in most fine cabaret, the show is down to stimulating writing, rousing music, articulate and believable production that moves along briskly and of course, an indisputably brilliant cast with a gifted appreciation for the subject they are performing!
Here are the performers we were lucky enough to observe that night!
Cherie Price – For ten months before playing the soap star going through life change in this production, Cherie played a soap star in Portland, Oregon. She has appeared as Charity in Sweet Charity, Val in A Chorus Line, Desiree in a little night music, Ruby in Dames at Sea and seven seasons as Tiger Lilly in Peter Pan! Recipient of a Portland Drama Critic’s Award for her performance of Roxy Hart in the hit play Chicago. This and much, much more made her the perfect sparkling sylph fighting off time, in a poignantly hilarious yet charming manner.
Skye Dee Miles – who began her career singing in a church in her home state of Missouri spent the seven years before this production in San Francisco in the longest running musical revue – Beach Blanket Babylon. She also has her own Rock / Soul band called appropriately – “Skye” and as the “professional” woman replete with suit – she fully belted out the music in such a riveting style that it was obvious the audience had a hard time restraining their urge to dance.
Vita Corimbi – Fire-cracker playing an Earth Mother! Where do I start – she plays several instruments but began her career as a classical pianist (as she says – soloing with some of the least known symphonies). She has played for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani – has played all over the world – been musical director for the hit show Tony and Tina’s Wedding – performed with stars such as Tom Jones, Wayne Newton, Krashtop Willie – she is a sought after voice-over and jingle artist – has received three Emmy Awards (and one ulcer) for performance and musical composition – PHEW – and so much more. Needless to say – she lights up the stage and any other place she happens to grace!
Annette Verdolino – who stepped in to play the Iowa Housewife on the night we saw the show. Hilarious and endearing, was a member of the OBIE award-winning HERE Arts centre, appearing in the world premiere of Lizzie Borden, the Rock Musical. In London she “hammed” her way through several roles in Burning Habits and since coming to Las Vegas has been in various musicals including the legendary Sweeney Todd. Her energetic performance of the frazzled and naïve housewife was the perfect muse, absorbing the experience and advice of the other women while sorting through her own changing life.
Other great shows like Mama Mia have used music to capture the undivided attention of their audience, and Menopause - The Musical leans heavily into this successful stratagem ensnaring the most “laissez - faire” spectator with high powered musical hits from the “70’s or so era” I.E “Chain, Chain, Chain becomes Change, Change, Change”, “ Stayin’ Alive is Stayin’ Awake”, “Puff the Magic Dragon is Puff, My God I’m Draggin” … well you get it!
The music belts, sobs and whines it’s way through the audience with heartfelt favorite American familiarity and the women shimmy, stomp, laugh and at times even run at the audience with their different yet shared emotional experience of the female human condition. They tear the subject out from under the rock over and over again – beating it soundly the way women together have done in real life for all existence. When they finally let go of you – well I for one was brought to the realization that through it all we generally lead spectacular lives, filled with years that are packed with love and laughter and pain and pleasure. When we finally take that “pause” and are willing to listen, we receive a giant helping hand over from all our women mentors that were there before us, and end up realizing, albeit uncomfortable, this can be the pathway to a re-born persona – a woman more comfortable in her own skin, self-reliant when it comes to her ego, her personal power – personal pleasure.
Of course – these lessons are hammered home with all the touch of a velvet glove … or should I state… well lets just say – when the Iowa Housewife appears in black lingerie singing “Good Vibrations” while holding a vibrator adoringly in her hands (is that object aphelia?) … anyway, dare I say lesson learned!
In Vegas the show ended with the actresses inviting everyone to hit the stage and frolic through a frenzied finale. Pent up energy to burn – even women in wheel chairs made it up on stage with a little help from their friends and the laughter that had echoed non-stop through the whole production exited the theatre with us and spilled out into the brightly lit casino. So – if you ‘re feeling a “tad” moody, a “scosh” tired and depressed, misunderstood, aren’t sleeping the best, wondering why even with the current energy crunch - EVERYWHERE you go people have their HEAT ON HIGH – if you hate your reflection, feel unloved or are just wondering where the hell you are and how you got there! (or even if you’re not but might). Go see Menopause – The Musical … though I gotta warn you … I don’t know about Ms. Zaina but I was left with an insatiable desire for a mountain of chocolate!
Menopause
A Mini Interview with the Talented Cast
By Oberon
On the evening that Zaina arranged a viewing of the hit musical Menopause we celebrated the end of the show drinking cocktails with three of the shows Divas draped over the settees in the funky little sports bar at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Joined by Vita, Skye and Cherie, I endeavored to get a sense of what life is like for stars of an alternative show in the “City of Excess is Best”. (A place in which I like to spend a lot of time when I’m able – excess I mean … Oh you knew that)!
Collectively – these women felt good about being a phenomenal hit in a city that adores dancers, performers, musicians and the like. They felt powerful because they put normal sized women on stage in the city of dolls and play to packed houses! They felt nourished by the sight of normal women leaving the theatre feeling good about where they are in life after seeing the show and feel that men love the show also because it allows them to feel better about their own insecurities.
The show has crossed cultural and sex specific boundaries around the world but these women are glad that it has remained playing in somewhat smaller venues (more intimate) where they feel they really connect with their audiences, and because their characters have no names can become every woman.
They expressed that women often have learned roles in life – very seldom realizing they can step out of the box to be themselves. They hope woman will take away the common bond from the show – the bond of friendship – how it helps celebrate lives and brings laughter and personal power to women. They feel friendship among women can bring about self acceptance – confident beauty and sexiness at any age and size.
Zaina, Vita, Skye, Oberon and Cherie
Relaxing After the Show
VITA CORIMBI: When I started the show, I was wearing big, wide clothes that hid everything – flat shoes – so that I would disappear. Now with my experience in this show and my friendship with the other women I have a different sense of confidence. I wear what I like.
OBERON: How does your husband relate to the change?
VITA CORIMBI: He loves it! Especially in Bed!
CHERIE PRICE: You know – in my 20’s & 30’s – I looked pretty good but I never thought that I did – recently I have the feeling that I’m O.K!
OBERON: What is the best thing about the role for you?
(Cherie plays the aging soap star)
CHERIE PRICE: For me it’s the courage I see that we bring out in the audience. As you saw, at the end of the show, we sometimes have wheel chairs that make their way onto the stage to be part of it all. Cancer survivors, women from all aspects of life.
SKYE DEE MILES: One night, an 80 year old black woman approached me as she came up on stage – “Maybe this will be the last time I dance” she said to me.
VITA and CHERIE: Also the exposure and recognition is great for us. Being off the strip we are popular with the locals who bring their families and visiting friends.
VITA CORIMBI: I have a cousin who is married to a 58 year old helicopter pilot doing a second term in Iraq. It was amazing for me – for 90 whole minutes he said he could really laugh and forget. Also – the show gives me a chance to do what I love! I say - do what you love – love what you do – find a way to love what you do and don’t do anything else!
The women expressed that Menopause was not just a show that was plainly as it seemed. It is more the vehicle with which to talk about life. The show is reliably the same wherever you see a performance. No improvisation is allowed.
OBERON: Do you have a choice of clothing for the show?
SKYE DEE MILES: I personally do care what my clothing projects so I made sure that I had a say!
VITA CORIMBI: I will speak up and say “that is something I won’t wear”!
OBERON: How long will the show be around?
ALL: Until there’s a cure for Menopause!
Personally, I am willing to bet that history will keep it going even longer than that!
I would like to thank my Editor – Zaina Hart for arranging the viewing of this phenomenal show.
A special thank-you to the Company Manager, Rhonda Sable for the warm welcome she gave us and the effort she provided to make sure we were well accommodated!
Zaina’s Side Notes and Random Thoughts:
The “M” Word – we dare not speak it, dare not think it, dare not ENJOY it? What’s this? Enjoy it? How can that be? Well, when else in life except during pregnancy, does a woman have such a wonderful excuse (license) for committing random acts of insanity?
And thanks Liz, my illustrious Gynocologist and friend (who while attending one of my dance shows a few years back yelled “take it off, take it off” - - yeah, to which my response was to yell back across the stage and room “you’ve already seen it – you’ve already seen itl”) says, “well gee Z, your blood levels still show you are PRE – Menopausal”. To which I sadly replied, “what? No license yet?” You know, the license you are issued when you are experiencing, IT, THE BIG “M”, THE CHANGE, THE CHANGE OF Life, M-E-N-O-P-A-U-S-E! You know, the “get out of jail free card” that is issued to every woman “of real age”. “I - - W-A-N-T - - T-H-A-T - - L-I-C-E-N-S-E!!!!! (Now, I say, are some of you getting the idea that my blood work might not be accurate? <giggle>)
“Menopause The Musical” – a delightful presentation of what we women experience at the “tender age” of life boldly goes where no show has gone before. The experience of menopause, change of life, certainly isn’t for the weak or the timid and this artsy, intelligent show approaches the subject with humor, style, absolute truth, or in other words, “grit” and “wit”.
Menopause gives us an opportunity to look from the outside in, and then inside back out, so that we are not afraid, not intimidated, and see that we surely are not alone in this next adventure from whence once again, the Phoenix will rise. As I watched the show, I saw my friends on stage, actually able to place people I know to cast members/characters, which made it all the more real to me. I even saw myself represented there and couldn’t help but giggle at how closely I could relate.
Zaina and Oberon
Prepping for the big show
It was great fun to go to the show with my dearest friend Oberon and then to follow it up spending time with the cast and company manager - - getting their perspective on the show, discussing the issues and venue, and as you can see by the interview, to experience with these fabulous ladies the wonderful life of WOMAN.
