"Have no fear, menopause is here"

There's more to menopause than just hot flashes, irritability and the discontinuance of one's menstrual cycle.

There's also a musical.

Menopause - a dirty word to most people - was the theme celebrated by hundreds of women on the Mainstage Theater at the Center for the Arts Wednesday night as they enjoyed "Menopause: the Musical."

The seats were filled and there were barely any men to be found. The women of the Red Hat Society sported their purple dresses and eccentric red hats as a declaration of their pride as middle-aged women. Other women wore pink or teal attire, statements for awareness of breast and ovarian cancer.

The musical showcased yet another example of entertainment provided by the CFA that is not necessarily geared towards UB students, but the Buffalo community at large.

The show was a story of four middle-aged women from various walks of life, shopping (and singing) their way through an average day. Although the four women were never formally introduced, their roles were obvious from the very first scene.

Shaunyce Omar played the "Power Woman" with her business attire and commanding presence, while Sarah Behrendt recalled the '60s in her role as the "Earth Mother." Lisa Anne Haram portrayed the slightly bashful and unworldly "Iowa Housewife" and Nyree Martinez played the washed-up and flirty "Soap Star."

Just as typical college students enjoy comedy about Burger King drive-thru workers and Dane Cook's desire to be a snake, this audience couldn't get enough of the lyrical comedy about hot flashes and night sweats.

The topics were sung to clever adaptations of hit songs from the '60s and '70s. Songs like the Beach Boys' "California Girls" and the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" were modified to creatively and humorously explain the trials and tribulations of a menopausal woman.

While numbers didn't have the complex choreography of a Broadway show, Patty Bender designed an amusingly simple and appropriate synchrony to the well-known tunes.

Pairing ridiculously funny and original lyrics with familiar tunes was a brilliant choice. In fact, using entirely original music would have cheapened the desired effect on the audience by diverting attention away from the lyrics.

Part of what made the musical so effective was the fact that the music and the vocal ability of the actresses was neither emphasized nor taken seriously. Although horrible vocals would have ruined the show, there was no need for the vocals to be amazing either. The women often sang in an exaggerated tone for humor and emphasis, and the four-part harmonies were sometimes painful.

All of the women's voices were worthy of the stage but Omar's powerful vocals stood out, emphasizing her "Power Woman" image.

Jeanie Linder, the writer and lyricist, even included a song dedicated to the men affected by their women's menopausal symptoms. The song, set to the tune of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," was undoubtedly the highlight for the twelve men in the audience.

"In the guest room or on the sofa, my husband sleeps tonight," sang the "Earth Mother."

A typical theater audience is quiet throughout the majority of a comedy or drama performance. "Menopause" managed to relate so well with these women however, that audience members could not help but chat and chuckle between scenes.

As specific as the target audience may have been for "Menopause the Musical," the production perfectly related to each woman in the audience. The show and the actors were real and hilarious, especially considering how rare it is to induce high-fives over insomnia, mood swings and hot flashes.

Above and beyond the humor, the show promoted pride and acceptance of these unwelcome changes. One audience member said the show was a celebration of life.