By Hayley Gastmeier
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A taboo topic, broached with a comedic slant, is the essence of a show vising Carterton later this month.
Menopause the Musical, currently touring New Zealand, is a “gorgeous celebration of womanhood” which explores “the change”.
Auckland-based actress Yvette Parsons plays a housewife in the musical, subtitled Women on Fire.
“It a hilarious musical show about four women who meet in a department store and share their experience of menopause in a very funny and engaging way.”
The show has been performed all around the world, with Parsons saying it was a light-hearted look at an issue rarely discussed.
“Comedy is often the best way to look at very serious subjects.
“You can broach anything with a comic slant and it makes it so much easier for people to let their hair down and talk about things that they couldn’t usually talk about.”
Although she is more outgoing than the “sweet natured” housewife character she plays, Parsons can strongly relate to the part, currently going through menopause herself.
“Until you have experienced it you don’t really know why it is so difficult to deal with… I really do know what it is like having hot flushes, and it is crazy and horrible and sickening.”
Parsons said even in this day and age there were “women out there that do feel isolated” going through the natural transition.
“Human beings experience all sorts of things that they don’t feel they have a right to talk about, they’re afraid to talk about themselves and their sufferings.
“The most important thing is to know you’re not alone. There’s a lot of us going through it and it’s okay.”
The 90-minute show features popular tunes from the 1960s to the 1980s, with Georgia Duder-Wood, Lynda Milligan and Debbie Penney co-staring with Parsons.
“[Menopause] is a bit of a battle and it’s good to sometimes talk about it and have a laugh about it and know that you’re normal,” Parsons said.
“This is a good opportunity to let some steam off and bring it up because it affects people’s lives in many ways.”
Menopause the Musical, with tickets in various locations already sold out, will be performed at the Carterton Events Centre on August 21.
Musical comedy takes on ‘the change’
