Book and lyrics: Jeanie Linders
Director: Maralin Vanrenen
Musical director: Lolly Somnez
Choreographer: Vicky Friedman
Where: Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theatre
When: Tuesday to Friday at 8pm; Saturday at 5pm and 8pm; Sunday at 3pm and 6pm.
What was the name of that show again? Pass the Prozac. Memory loss and depression are only two of the targets of Menopause the Musical, which leans towards a spoofy revue rather than a full-blooded original book musical.
Still, this gutsy romp has a lot of heart, a killer sense of humour and a kick tail cast.
Confronting, even breaking, social taboos on the musical theatre stage requires a lot of skill and guile. Creator Jeanie Landers achieves her tribute to the change of life with a blend of personal experience, research and a passion for American pop culture.
Each song in MTM rings a bell, especially if you're male or female in your 40s, 50s or 60s, which makes the altered lyrics all the more enjoyable. Think: Beach Boys, Bee Gees, John Travolta, Sonny and Cher and The Village People on an oestrogen rush.
South African director Maralin Vanrenen knows how to transpose an American piece onto the South African stage with flair while channelling local energies.
Choreographer Vicky Friedman gets carried away in the opening numbers with too much annoying business but thankfully the routines settle down. Just as well, because the dances and songs are integral facets of the four characters who meet at Bloomingdales lingerie sale.
The ageing Soap Star (Kate Normington) has designs on plastic surgery in-between experiencing a sultry heatwave. The Iowa Housewife (Judy Ditchfield) has a hidden raunchy streak which erupts in Good Vibrations (of the mechanical kind) and the raucous Only You.
Of course there's the hippy chick turned matronly Earth Mother (Brenda Radloff) who turns Solomon Linda's Mbube into an anthem for her long suffering husband and Puff the Magic Dragon into an exercising lament.
As expected the hot flashing Powerwoman (Ilse Klink) means business taking on The Great Pretender and sending up Tina Turner clean off her stilettos.
The performers are a vocal powerhouse who love to have fun with the unmentionable. And they aren't scared of sharing a communal kickline. No sweat (for a change).