Australia’s favourite Insta mum shows all as her unapologetic, authentic self, but not as Lyn. Mel Buttle is 'Not Here To Put Socks On Centipedes’.
Mel speaks to a packed Roundhouse about becoming a new mum to her baby boy, Harry. Proudly taking on the traditional roll of 'dad', 'sh.t on the sheets', and life as a kid growing up in the '80s at the garbage dump with her old man with a sucker of a packed lunch – it raises questions on what was ‘acceptable’ parenting back then, and how much has changed.
Mel is a regular on 'The Project' as well as Tom Gleeson’s 'Taskmaster', but sky-rocketed to fame at the beginning of her parenthood journey with the creation of Lyn, a suburban mum she claims is based off her own. In this show, however, she’s not playing Tik Tok, in fact, a large portion of the material would likely be censored by the internet in this day and age. That photo of her with her son’s sperm taken at the clinic before it was implanted, and the promotion of diazepam pills as a relaxant to be specific.
The minute she walks out on stage, it’s like talking to that funny friend over brunch at your favourite cafe (living in Adelaide, my partner can assure you it certainly is). There is no smoke screen with Mel. It is raw, it’s real, and what you see on stage is what you get. Things you’ve thought as a mum yourself in the past but wondered, “does that make me a bad mother to think that about my kid?” are laid out on the table for you to feel less guilty.
It’s quite nice to have an Australian female comedian out there talking to the women of the world struggling with the woes of society, bogged down in filthy nappies and sleepless nights while keeping those really true elements of herself alive. Credit to Mel’s amazing partner who is home with 17-month-old Harry while she tours doing what she loves, and she doesn’t shy away from recognising that sacrifice. As a mum of children to a touring artist, I get it, girls!
Mel is currently touring this show around Australia and will present this show at both the Brisbane and Melbourne International Comedy Festivals alongside her comedy hubby, Damien Power. If you’re looking for an hour full of laughs with no filter, Mel is one to catch.
