The advance word of mouth has been good, and local buzz will no doubt grow following the opening night in Honolulu of "Menopause the Musical."

The show, with book and lyrics by Jeanie Linders, focuses on "The Change" by adding new lyrics to popular songs of the '50s, '60s, and '70s. So it's, "I'm havin' a hot flash" instead of heat wave, and "Stayin' awake," instead of stayin' alive.

Granted, it's a one-note concept, but the four women in the cast directed by Kathryn Conte put it over with so much spirit that the audience responds in kind. You don't have to be a female of a certain age to enjoy the show, but it probably helps. The row having the most fun in the opening night audience sported a collection of jaunty red hats.

The simple show, with minimal set, recorded music and only four performers is perfect for the road, and productions have traveled internationally and across the country since a 2001 debut in Orlando.

Only mushy sound quality and distracting black mouthpiece microphones marred the opening production here, which otherwise has a polished look.

The Honolulu cast features Monique Whittington as Professional Woman, Nancy Slusser as Soap Star, Janis Roeton as Earth Mother, and Liz Hyde as Iowa Housewife. Establishing

distinct personas adds variety to the stage picture, but the songs are not strongly linked to the characters and could be interchangeable.

Similarly, the connecting thread that has four strangers meet at a Bloomingdale's lingerie sale and travel throughout the store as a group could be laced together any number of ways. The women lament wrinkles in the cosmetics area and anguish over cellulite in the intimate apparel department, but there is no real plot line.

Nevertheless, the show builds to a big finish with a broadly comic number for Iowa Housewife, crooning "Only You" into a very phallic-looking pink hand microphone. And for the "New Attitude" finale, the cast changes from bathrobes into slinky black evening wear in a seeming instant. The invitation then is for women in the audience to join them on stage for a celebratory boogie. Caught up in the fun, many do.

The first source of appeal is the instant familiarity that the music has for the target menopausal generation. Women of this age are immediately in synch with "Chain of Fools," "Good Vibrations" and "Wishin' And Hopin'." The songs immediately call up a younger, fresher time — for most, a very good time.

But the show's stronger pull comes from the freedom to publicly giggle over the more sober personal realities that have come with aging. There's genuine liberation to be had in laughing over these new lyrics to "The Lion Sleeps Tonight": "In the guest room or on the sofa, my husband sleeps tonight." And when the subject changes from lack of sex to dependence on drugs, the women sing, "I wish we all could be sane and normal," in an easy take-off on "California Girls."

The safe feminine world of Bloomingdale's is a girl's break from sober reality. They go a little wild with vibrators and sexy underwear, and basically let their graying hair down for a good time.

That's enough reason to support a 90-minute show of almost nonstop laughs and music.

Joseph T. Rozmiarek has been reviewing theater performances in Hawai'i since 1973.

DETAILS:

'Menopause the Musical'

7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 7 p.m. Sundays (matinees: 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday), through April 20

Hawai'i Theatre

$40-$45

528-0506, www.new

spaceentertainment.com