Menopause The Musical 2 – Cruising Through Menopause at Lighthouse Poole Review
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Mel S-W
Hot flushes, mood swings, memory lapses and weight gain… how can this be funny? But oh my… This was hilarious!
This is one of the amazing shows that is coming to the Lighthouse over the coming weeks and months. Now I haven’t had the pleasure of watching the first round of Menopause the Musical so was worried that I maybe wouldn’t get some of the references, but no, a short introduction by the cast (and their menopause symptoms) at the start of the show was all we needed to enable us to enjoy this laugh a minute show. I didn’t feel like I’d missed out on anything and it was a standout show for me and I’m saddened that this is the final tour and I can’t go see it again.
Menopause The Musical 2 – Cruising Through Menopause is set 5 years after the first show, where our characters met at the Bloomingdale’s lingerie sale and they have nothing in common with each other than a lacy black bra. Bonding over all the symptoms of menopause like chocolate binges, loss of memory, hot flushes, night sweats, and sexual predicaments. Now, 5 years later the gang get back together for a girly cruise so they could enjoy the company (and the vino!)
Starring Maureen Nolan (The Nolans), Rebecca Wheatley (Receptionist Amy Howard in Casualty), Carli Norris (Belinda Peacock in Eastenders) and Daniele Coombe (West End Star) they smashed out a stellar performance in the final UK tour of the smash-hit Menopause the Musical 2 – Cruising Through Menopause. They all owned the stage and had such wonderful voices. They brought humour to what has been such a taboo in the past with mumblings from the audience that they weren’t aware of certain symptoms.
The set was simple. A cruise ship backdrop showing each of their cabin doors and a couple of set pieces that enabled them to create different scenes but they didn’t need to have big sets because the cast were just so into their characters and just went for it, belting out the show’s hits. There were some moments between scenes where the stage was changing from one scene to the next and you could hear people talking and giggling about what they’d seen. It was marvellous.
The show was full of hilarious parodies with their own versions of songs from Chicago and a great rendition of Memories (Cats). My personal favourites were I Need A Vino (I Need a Hero), One, Two, Three Tena Ladies (Once, Twice, Three Times A Lady) all delivered with simple and effective staging and comedy. I personally don’t know how the cast weren’t laughing themselves! There is never a dull moment, always something bright, funny, witty, clever to sing. It was a hit for me!
The audience, as you’d expect, was predominantly women of all ages, with the odd man dotted throughout the audience but everyone was singing along and really enjoying themselves. This was another brilliant show brought to us by Lighthouse Poole. It was feel good, a laugh a minute and everyone in the room was having an absolute ball! Who knew a journey through the symptoms of menopause in a very humorous way would be so funny. The show ended with a standing ovation from the entire audience. Some amazing voices and brilliant characters, so bravo! I didn’t want it to end!
Thank you to the Lighthouse for bringing Menopause the Musical 2 – Cruising Through Menopause to Poole. With a big thank you to the staff for being so polite as always
Rating: 5/5
This was a one night only show. Tickets started from £30. To find out what else is coming up at the Lighthouse Poole, check out their What’s On Guide here www.lighthousepoole.co.uk
Lighthouse, Arts and Entertainment, 21 Kingland Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1UG