For women of a certain age, “the change” is something to expect. But for a long time, it was never discussed.
No more.
On Sunday, with shows at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., Menopause the Musical will be at the Capitol Center for the Arts.
“It was not talked about,” said Kathy St. George, one of the actresses in the show. “We all go through it. … It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
The musical starts with four women in various stages of menopause shopping in Bloomingdale’s. There is a sale, and they spot one particular black, lace bra that they want.
Through musical parodies of popular songs, with the lyrics changed to discuss menopause, the women share their similar struggles with hot flashes, moodiness and other physical changes.
Selections include “Change, Change, Change,” a parody of “Chain of Fools”; “Puff, My God, I’m Draggin’,” a parody of “Puff, the Magic Dragon”; and “My Husband Sleeps Tonight,” a parody of “In the Jungle the Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
“It is one of the most fun shows, not only for the actors in it but also the audience,” St. George said.
St. George, of Stoneham, Mass., plays the soap opera star. She has lots of experience in the role, having performed it off-and-on since 2004 when the show had a run in Boston.
She’s a veteran of Boston-area theater having played dozens of roles in her career from Judy Garland and Mame Dennis to Grandma Tzeitel and Nellie Forbush.
She also was a stand-in for Susan Lucci, who played Erica Kane in All My Children, since they were of similar statures.
“I find that I’m thinking a lot of Susan Lucci while performing,” St. George said.
In the musical, the soap star, like the three other unnamed characters, is worried about aging.
St. George’s character is worried about her appearance and being replaced by a younger actress, but through the course of the show comes to realize beauty is only skin deep.
The other characters in the show are the Earth Mother, played by Megan Cavanagh; the Professional Woman, played by Donna Huntley; and the Iowa Housewife, played by Liz Hyde. The cast changes depending on where the company is touring.
“It’s a fabulous cast,” St. George said.
She said the characters are written so that everyone in the audience can relate to at least one, but maybe several, of them.
The show runs for 90 minutes without intermission.
“I promise you, you’ll love it,” St. George said.
Tickets are $44 to $59 and available at ccanh.com or by calling 225-1111. There will also be “hot flash fans” for sale for $1, for which the proceeds go to the Susan Komen breast cancer foundation, St. George said.