Ladies of a certain age are 85% likely to suffer one or more symptoms of the menopause, predominantly hot flushes. Others being, decreased libido, depression, incontinence, insomnia, irritability, itching, memory loss, mood swings, night sweats, skin thinning, tiredness and weight gain, all symptoms I have had for years.  So why write a musical about women suffering?  Julie Benson had the idea and wrote the book at the height or ‘heat’ of her menopause and ‘Hot Flush’ was created.

‘Hot Flush!’ is described as an outrageous new musical with a collection of well-known stars as the cast.

The action takes place around the lives of four friends who have together formed The Hot Flush Club meeting in Fanny’s bar every Tuesday.

Rula Lenska as Myra Levy lives with her 18-year-old son after her husband deserted her for a much younger blond pole dancer. Her high-powered job is frequently interrupted by her stress incontinence and inability to prevent herself taking things out on her male opponents.

Marti Webb as Helen Thomas is facing the changes alone as her teenage daughter is at college and her husband died years ago.  

Sheila Ferguson as Sylvia Kiley has been on HRT for some time living with her husband whose libido only rises twice a year and she has taken younger lovers. The current model is only 18.

Finally Rachel Izen as Jessica Conway whose husband seems to be living in his shed, her son is gay, the vicar lusts after her and her clothes are shrinking. Oh yes on top of all that her memory is going.

The token man in the show is Sam Kane. Sam’s unenviable task is to play every male in the lives of the four women, from the son to the young lover, through the husbands and vicar to the barman and speed dates.

The individual and linked stories are told through 21 musical numbers each as hilarious as the other, but the penultimate number ‘The Perfect Pet’ almost brought the house down.  The audience seemed to consist of 98% of ‘women of a certain age’ and it has been a long time since I have heard an audience laughing so much together.

The small orchestra or ‘The Hormonettes’ are obviously all female: Natasha Panas, Louisa Ridgway, Anna Burton, Hannah Mitchell and Annette Van Dyk together they are superbly talented musically and must be the most gorgeous band I have seen in a long time.

This is definitely not a show I would be tempted to take Geoff to but I am certainly looking forward to the chance some time in the future to take a gang of female friends.  Oh and every time I think of Sam Kane I definitely get a ‘Hot Flush!’

Hot Flush!    Kings Theatre Edinburgh    Monday 9^th to Saturday 14^th April 2007. 

Hot Flush  -  November 2007