As the director of Menopositive the Musical, her technique involves asking the four actresses to consider how their characters would react given certain situations. That usually corresponds with some kind of joke or funny comment or action, resulting in the whole team breaking down in laughter.

"It's funny as heck," Mackie said. "It's very funny. That's why we're a little bit behind because we're laughing so much."

But laughter is far from the only emotional reaction the play induces. Written by CBC radio and television broadcaster J.J. McColl, it tells the story of four women in their 50s staging a revue for their 35th high school reunion. The revue, incidentally, is the play within a play, Menopositive the Musical.

The story is based on McColl's experiences recording dozens of women at pot luck dinners. Given the title, it should come as no surprise the play takes the audience all over the emotional spectrum.

"People are going to go up, they're going to laugh, then they're going to take the roller coaster and feel sympathy for someone," Mackie said. "It's like a roller coaster. But life's like that, especially if your hormones are out of whack."

The play is being co-produced by the Port Mansion Theatre and Mackie's company Granny M Productions, which previously staged Little Shop of Horrors and Rocky Horror Show. She said this time around, it's a little easier for her to relate to the characters.

"I've never met a plant trying to take over the world, and I don't know any transvestites, but I have been through menopause, and so have a lot of people," she said.And the action on stage will not be familiar to only women; men are going to recognize the circumstances.

"They'll be able to laugh at this just as much as the women because they've been through it, too," Mackie said.

The musical features a whole range of songs, from country to gospel to R&B, salsa -- even a little bit of disco. Some of the stories are also told through a cappella and poetry.

The play opens today (Oct. 3) and runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m., closing Nov. 9.

Tickets are $30 for evenings and $25 for matinees, plus tax.

For tickets or information, call 905-934-0575 ext. 226 or visit www.portmansion.com.

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Watch a scene from "Menopositive the Musical" as Niagara This Week drops by a rehearsal of the Granny M Production play which runs Oct. 3 to Nov. 9 at Port Mansion Theatre in St. Catharines.

Now available in our VIDEOS section.