What’s scarier than hot flashes, loss of libido, memory lapses, mood swings, domestic partnerships, and denial? All those qualities trapped together on a cruise ship. And did I mention the broken air conditioner? Terrifying.
“Menopause the Musical 2: Cruisin’ Through the Change” brought these everyday horrors to life Thursday, Oct. 30, at The Young. The show followed four friends navigating “the change,” featuring heartache, grief, insecurities, and a whole lot of sequins.
“Of course it was extreme, but it really does happen,” one audience member said. “And when it’s happening to you, it feels that extreme. Oh, just you wait.”
Many audience members nodded in agreement to the impending sentiment.
“It really touched all the boxes of what women feel during this time of life. It’s horrifying to have everything change. And it’s not like there’s a warning; people don’t often talk about it, and it can be very lonely. And of course, your husband, even if he’s here tonight, will never really understand it,” An audience member said.
Across campus that same evening, another kind of chaos was underway. In the UC Hamilton Room, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was turning fear into freedom. Between rice-throwing, fishnets, and Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s electric charisma, the performance checked every classic trope box: haunted mansions, Frankenstein-esque monsters, and a heavy dose of camp. Where Menopause drew a mostly older crowd laughing knowingly at every line, Rocky Horror packed the room with college students ready to cheer every outrageous flourish.
Two shows, one night, both finding comedy in chaos. One embraced the monster within; the other, the monster of menopause.
While both flirted with fear, neither aimed to frighten. Instead, they satirically use these common horror tropes to explore identity, transformation, and resilience. From back-laced corsets to night sweats, both The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Menopause the Musical 2 remind us that humor is our best defense against the things that terrify us.
Comedic parodies of classic songs helped ease the tension in Menopause, with lines like:
“I’m the deep-fried, double-wide version of the girl I was before — and I don’t look good naked anymore.”
“Now I’m spritzing estrogen like it’s Chanel No. 5.”
Rocky Horror offered similar comedic relief, with lines like:
“Meet the man who’s perfect in every way… if your idea of perfection comes with muscles, glitter, and questionable life choices.”
Poking fun at societal pressures, both shows invited audiences to confront what scares them and then laugh anyway. The Rocky Horror Picture Show tells you not to be afraid of who you are; Menopause the Musical 2 tells you not to be afraid of who you’re becoming.
“I came with all my girlfriends. We really enjoyed it. It’s funny because it’s true. You laugh, but you also kind of wince at the same time,” one audience member said.
By the end of the night, whether you were sweating through a corset among college peers or clutching a fan with lifelong friends, one thing was clear: laughter is the most powerful weapon against any monster.
