Hot flashes, night sweats and every other imaginable symptom of menopause was made humorous through music Tuesday night during the first run of Menopause The Musical at the State Theatre.
A sea of middle-aged women streamed into the theater for the show that packed every available seat in the house.
Some could be seen buying merchandise from a small table in the lobby before the show, which displayed everything from logo T-shirts to "hot flash" fans that could be seen waving in the audience throughout the performance.
Stephanie Lawson, the company manager for the musical's tour, said they usually sell a lot of CDs at the tour stops, as well as song books that provide the words for all the show's parodies of '60s, '70s and '80s music.
"Women will buy it for parties -- like it's a girls night out, but they're all menopause age," she said.
The show's ability to turn such unfortunate effects of menopause into something to laugh about was the overarching theme of the show, and it also provided uplifting numbers to help women feel comfortable about going through "the change."
Liz Reichlin, of State College, said she asked many of her friends to come out and see the show as a way of celebrating her 57th birthday, but some of them were skeptical of the its content.
"They said they don't find one thing funny about menopause," Reichlin said. "I said 'it's funny, you have to find humor in your life.' "
Humor is exactly what the show provided as it touched on the subjects of mood swings and antidepressants, as well as their effects on the menopausal women and their families.
Crowd favorites included the show's spoofs of the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" becoming "stayin' awake," due to night sweats. One woman even shouted "I hear you!" in relation to the songs lyrics.
The menopausal version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," changed to be about where a husband sleeps during his wife's mood swing in the show. The four women of the ensemble made animal noises during the number that blended in with the shrieks of laughter from women in the audience.
The show also touched on more awkward subjects. Its version of "What's Love Got To Do With It" was suggestive of masturbation with a singer's use of a pink painted microphone.
Kelley Schmidt (senior-telecommunications) said this was one of the few parts of the show that was a little awkward for her as she watched with her mom.
"But it was fun because we could laugh together," she added.
Jackie Stover, of Bellefonte, said she knew going to the show with her husband wouldn't embarrass her no matter what subject matter was brought up.
"We've been through a lot together, so this will be nothing," she said.
Vanessa Schumacher, Class of 2009, and Frankie Chicco (senior-actuarial science) were one of the few young couples in the audience. Schumacher said it was actually Chicco's idea to buy tickets to the show.
"He's embarrassed he's the only guy here," she said, even though multiple males dotted the crowd.
Schumacher added she had no idea what show her boyfriend had bought tickets for, but he gave her an odd hint as she guessed what the show was about.
"He said it was the opposite of having babies, and I knew it was about menopause," she said.
