Staying menopositive

Every woman has to go through menopause so why not have a sense of humour about it.

That’s the attitude Beverly MacLeod-Gravelle has towards the inevitable transition period in a woman's life. It’s also what attracted her to the Rob MacLeod’s Capitol Players theatre production of Menopositive: the musical. The show follows four women as they talk about their experiences with menopause through comedy and music.

"(Menopause) is going to happen one way or the other," MacLeod-Gravelle said on Sunday. "May as well have a sense of humour about it."

MacLeod-Gravelle said she plays Zsuzsu Herendy, a Hungarian school janitor, who stumbles upon three other women putting on a show for their 35th class reunion. Seeing her chance to perform again on the stage, Herendy joins the three other women in the show.

Having more than 20 years experience in theatre, MacLeod-Gravelle said she shares the same feeling towards the stage as her character. What attracted her to the script was that it talked about menopause through comedy but at the same time kept subtle serious tones, she said.

"I am a woman of a certain age so I’m absolutely at the right age group for this cast," she said. "I can personally understand what the women are going through. Besides the comedy, all the women have pasts, they have presents and they have important things in their lives. I think that’s going to appeal tot he audience."

She said she hoped that men in the audience wouldn’t be put off by the subject matter and hoped they would attend so they could have a better understanding about menopause.

Director Jim Hobson said it’s a story about women becoming more beautiful as they advance on their journeys in life.

"I don’t know what’s going to be the reaction to this show but once I read it I loved it," Hobson said. "It’s got humour, great feeling and the women come together quite nicely in the end. They’re very supportive of each other and it’s very positive. It’s menopositive."

The show runs from May 26 to 28 at 8 p.m. and May 28 and 29 at 2 p.m. at the Journey to Wellness facility on West Amelia Street. Tickets are $15 for the evening shows and $10 for the matinees. Tickets are available Journey to Wellness, Steeper’s on May Street and the Bean Fiend on Algoma Street.

Ticket outlets will accept cash only.