‘Menopause The Musical’

In early 2006, Las Vegas-based actress Paige O'Hara, the voice of Belle in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast," signed on to "Menopause The Musical" as a hormonal soap star with an appetite for younger men.

Her casting demonstrates merely the range of a working pro; the title itself is what seemed like an eyebrow-raiser for Las Vegas, more the stuff of little theater than the land under Soleil.

Its producers knew their stuff though. The campy cabaret musical kept two casts busy, and now is on the homestretch of a third year at the Las Vegas Hilton, and it's still a perfect fit for the cozy Shimmer Cabaret.

O'Hara remains onboard, but between then and now something very strange occurred: She had a cameo in Disney's princess-movie spoof "Enchanted," seen on a hotel room TV as none other than, yes, a soap star.

She says it's a coincidence.

This year, "Menopause" beat back a demographic challenge from a show called "Hats!" That one was a more ambitious, nuanced title with poignant moments. But its failure accents the blunt force of "Menopause," which almost never pulls back from trying to be funny and obvious.

Four women meet fighting over sale bras at Bloomingdale's, setting up a day of support and sisterhood in various departments of the store. The four are such archetypes they don't even need names. Along with the Soap Star -- who reads in the gossip columns she's about to be retired -- there's the pantsuited Professional Woman (Susan Beubian), the Birkenstock Earth Mother (Cheryl Spencer) and the Lucy-meets-Edith Bunker Iowa Housewife (Laura Lee O'Connell at this performance, but now out in a road company. Annette Houlihan Verdolino is now in the part).

The songs are familiar even if the lyrics aren't. Writer/producer Jeanie Linders goes for MAD magazine song parody using baby boomer classics. "Chain of Fools" becomes "Change of Life." "Stayin' Alive" becomes "Stayin' Awake" and "Night Fever" is "Night Sweatin'."

"Menopause" is nothing if not determined. There's a lunch scene where Soap Star has a "Hot Flash" to the tune of Irving Berlin's "Heat Wave." But then two other characters have their own hot-flash songs.

Later, O'Hara returns to sing "Heat Wave/Hot Flash" again, this time a torchy, teasing turn in the audience. What counts is the performance value, and the bonding in the small theater.

"Menopause" hasn't totally escaped the economic downturn. It curbed its schedule to eight shows each week and consolidated casts into one four-person team, plus two standbys who go in at least once each week: Sandra Benton and Lori Legacy, who some might remember as Dolly Parton in "Honky Tonk Angels."

The consolidated cast of Broadway veterans does manage to keep the silliness grounded, and at times inject just a wee touch of reality. But reality isn't the goal. Affirmation is.

"Good Vibrations" is turned into a naughty joke, and the gay anthem "Y.M.C.A." isn't. "Menopause" is just that kind of musical, but it's undeniably good at what it does.

Contact reporter Mike Weatherford at mweatherford@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0288.