Inspiring women to step outside their comfort zones is what Ladies Out Loud is all about – and local comediennes will be stepping all the way out onto the stage at Bert Church LIVE Theatre Oct. 20 for two presentations of Hot Flashes: Revelations of the Dangerous Age, a fast-paced comedy about the challenges and adventures of menopause. “Menopause is a very serious thing that women of our age, and women in general, go through – but we’re good at laughing at it,” said Karen MacDonald, who founded the Ladies Out Loud group in 2015. “Otherwise, we’d just be crying all the time.” Ladies Out Loud has been highlighting the talents of local women through theatre productions for the past few years. According to MacDonald, the group presented The Vagina Monologues three years in a row before switching it up with Calendar Girls, last year. This year, MacDonald selected Hot Flashes, which has been well-loved by audiences around the world. “We’ve seen a great response,” she said. “Vagina Monologues is of a different structure – short monologues, some being very deep and dark, but some funny ones within there, as well. And it’s open to women of all ages; you see women of 18 all the way up. But for something like this, or for Calendar Girls, you’re casting mature women.” While Ladies Out Loud is inclusive of women of all ages, the group is primarily geared to women between the ages of 40 and 55 – a more “mature generation,” as MacDonald puts it. Hot Flashes features a number of short skits that lead from one into the other, dealing with topics that women will be familiar with. “We’re trying to empower and inspire ladies – just because we’re mature doesn’t mean we haven’t got a lot of life and stuff in us,” MacDonald said. “But this isn’t just for women to come out to. It’s funny, and men will relate to it, as well – they’re the ones who have to live with us.” According to MacDonald, casting for the production was done in August, giving the women just a few weeks of rehearsals before the performance is presented to audiences at two showings Oct. 20. Still, she said, Airdrie’s comediennes have enough talent and ability to take on the challenge. “I think we stereotype women into different things – you’re a granny, you’re a mom – but when you bring us together, we’re just funny,” MacDonald said. “Women of a mature age, and women in general, we’re so funny. And that’s something I’m really hoping we can show the audience.” Ladies Out Loud will be presenting Hot Flashes: Revelations of the Dangerous Age Oct. 20 at Bert Church LIVE Theatre, with performances at 2:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the group’s website, under the “events” drop-down menu.
