20 — Friday, April 10, 1998 — North Shore News VCCK THEATRE Hormonal harmony I looked at the program and read the list of songs titles — Hormones, Whirligig Glands and Nips and Tucks. I wondered if I was the right person to be reviewing — - Menopositive! The Mustwal. What can a man truly compre- hend about that time ina woman’s life when she comes to terms with her body's age. _ J.J. McColl’s new musical might help. Te’s an upbeat, celebratory treatment cf the possibilities implicit in maturity and, as such, it is comfortably entertain- ing for the male of the species. Far, farts and flushes are amusingly handled, fears are acknowledged, and friendship and new beginnings conquer al. If fife were just this simple. . Just to show it isn’t, McColl tosses in a bunch of issues. . Under the “A” we get abortion, alcoholism, adultery and Alzheimer’s. All worth a-tear and a song. The songs are mostly good and provide the highpoints of the show. Getting there still needs some work. McColl researched material for her writing by hosting potluck dinners and inviting women to ~ share their experiences. Her play feels weighed down .- by thé sum of all their experience to the detriment | ~~ of character development. Kate, Marnie, and Cynthia are putting together a musical revue for their Fraser Valley high school’s ~ 35th reunion: So we witness Kate’s struggle to write *» Menopositive! Te Musical while we are watching _- Menopas ‘Well; you get the idea. ~ ‘Marnie has become a highly successful entrepre- : _neur, Cynthia has married the highly successful. harles Sa vyer, former high schoo! ‘stud and still ‘mixed up with thenvall in ways that will become ent, and Kate is a massive under-achiever who Martin Millerchip ctually they-all do, which ‘ought to make for me interesting character, development but-unfor- nunately McCo Ps formula remains the same throu; : ent, exposition, song.’ iareh performer is missing but before we have time to wonder whether the show will go on a brassy. Hungarian cléaning lady, Zs’ "Zsu, is running “her vacuum across the stage and singing Here [ Am. *At least Zsa Zsu is not quite as stereotypical as © ¢ rest despite her (capital S) sad past. Mamie is the - yoman with a damaged childhood. ; “Cynthia i is the. unfulfilled, naive: wife who’ s snobbery is enough to make her dis- likeable until the change (we're talking character, not menopause, here). Kate is a minimum-wage loser with a secret. Want to ber whether everything will work out for her reo? Susinn McFarlen (Kate), is the ultimate standout in this remount of a Firchall Arts Centre and Musical Theatre Works production. She may not have the strongest veice — that would belong unquestionably to Ann Warn Pegg — but she sings well, harmonizes with Patricia Dahlquist (Marnie) even bet- ter. She broughr a tear to my eye with Little Bird and a smile for pretty much evervthing else. Dahlquist, too, is a strong presence with a good voice, but I didn’t believe her most anguished moments although, in fairness, that may be more the writing’s fault. Candace O*Connar (Cynthia) sensibly underplays her vole’s nastier edges but that doesn’t leave a lot left to hang on to and she also has the weakest voice of the four. Ann Warn Pegg attacks the role of Zsu Zsu with the PATRICIA Dahiquist, Susinn McFarlen, Candace. (8) Connor. and: Ann. Warn. Pegg, left to right, stride confidently into their future in Menopositive! The: " Musical at the Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island until May 2. ; : same joy and gusto she brings to her singing. ln the slow first act she was'a welcome breath of fresh air, but the char acter’s more interesting Possibilities exist in quieter moments of doubt. There is no real musical moti to the songs McColl has.. * cre cated. Many are a conscious antempt to incorporate reco: nizable styles like flamenco, country and western, music hall and the blues. Most work really well; cither providing insigh into the character or an emotional highpoint for. the play. The songs, the entertainment value and, most importan ly, the subject matter makes Menopositive! The Musical re ommendable, but [ hope McColl will continue to ‘develop: her play to its full porential, eile Whaét Is A CommuniTea |Party? ? It is a TEArrific fundraising opportuniTEA to raise much needed money for four community,» foundations through a series of tea parties that shrink i in size over a month. , How the Event Works The CommuniTEA Party starts with eight community dignitaries having tea and each donating $10. 00. Then these eight have seven people to tea who each donate $10.00. The seven people then have six people for tea, and so on. Each successive tea party shrinks in size until 40,320 people each have one _ hh. Se The PossibiliTEAS A Tea party can be lots of un and doesn't have to take a lot of time or effort. Simply invite friends, _ relatives or co-workers to have tea with you. You can serve “tea” anyway you desire. : *Virtual Tea Have a cup of tea at an appointed time and mail your money to your host ©Tea Vee Watch TV with friends, drink tea and donate $10.00 each. ; ¢SporTEA Go play your favourite sport, then meet for hot tea and collect donations. A TEArrifie North Shore Fundraising OpportuniTEA For: Capilano College Foundation Memorial Library Foundation of West Vancouver mericant 1 Express Gérdmembers gO to The From ‘of The : : Great Seats have been reserved for’ guest to tea. Conrad dohn Schue . as Oliver Ward ks Introducing 7. - Brittny Kissinger a , as Annie : ebaing co [oo Sally Struthers |: as Miss Hannigan L. Lions Gate Hospital Foundation North Shore Charitable Foundation north shore To become a tea party guest or for more information call: party & TEA PARTY HOTLINE 984~3800 I eee « MMurchies Nex am” Photo: Carol Roseg