Review: Women Like Us
When a stand-up comedy show has been touring for 10 years, including travelling to rural and remote locations across Queensland, then you know it must be good. And Women Like Us is good. Very good.
Looking around the packed PIP Theatre on Thursday night, it was clear that the show had sold well to particular demographic. However, don’t be put off by thinking that comedy by two 50-something women is only for ‘women of a certain age.’ This is a show that had all members of the Thursday evening audience in fits of laughter, and I am sure that anyone over 30 will really, really enjoy Women Like Us. But, as Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs are finally ending their tour and returning to Mullumbimby, you had better be quick to catch them.
If you haven’t been to a stand-up comedy show before, the Women Like Us format is simple. Each performer takes to the stage and quickly holds the audience in the palm of their hand as they run through several anecdotes and stories that often appear to be improvised and conversational. Once the first set is complete, they swop over, before ending the show with a brief comedy ‘duet.’
Ellen Briggs’ set was exceptional. Side-splittingly funny, and beautifully observed. Hopefully it will have also acted as a community service announcement, to ensure men realise that a ‘pampering’ voucher for a waxing may not be the gift that their 50-something partner will ever want to receive. But also expect some highly amusing reflections on yoga, golf, bucket lists, and being an empty-nester—plus lovely moments of audience interaction around the pressing questions of the day, such as ‘what do you call your vibrator?’ Even in times of great personal sadness, such as the death of her mother, Ellen Briggs manages to find the funnier side of life (that crochet shawl!).
Picture: Ellen Briggs in Women Like Us (credit: Creative Futures Photography).
Picture: Mandy Nolan in Women Like Us (credit: Creative Futures Photography).
Mandy Nolan’s set also touched on some serious issues, but in a thought-provoking and funny way—moving quickly from the challenges of pharmaceutical products, ageing and buying bras, through to talking about parenting less-high-achieving kids, and stories from late night emergency room nurses. I was particularly impressed by Mandy Nolan’s commentary about violence against women, and humorous reflections on the ways in which men and women need to work together to address this issue (you’d have to be there to learn more about the ‘D**k-takers’ concept).
Sadly, the highly successful 10-year tour of Women Like Us ends this week. If you can still find tickets, just go. Take a group of girlfriends, drag along your partner, or go on your own. 2024 has been a challenging year for most, and we all really can do with a good laugh. You don’t have to be female, or over-50, to enjoy this show.
Audience information: Women Like Us (5- 7 December 2024, 7pm), PIP Theatre, 20 Park Road, Milton QLD 4064. 60 minutes. 16+ Tickets $30-37 (or include in the Toucan Club 21 November-21 December ‘two shows for $50’ deal).
The reviewer attended the 6 December 2024 7pm performance.