Funny Men Keeping it Real
For the past five years comedians Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs have toured their successful Women Like Us show to festivals and venues around the country. They have performed in excess of 150 shows, to well over 40 000 people. What people continue to love about their show is the way they deliver everyday relatable themes in a roll-on-the-floor laughing kind of way. It occurred to Nolan and Briggs that maybe the audiences that love their female take on life would love a man’s take on it too – but those men have to come from the same frame as the Women Like Us show.
So, Men Like Us was born – a comedy show that features the comedic musings of the very Aussie Lindsay Webb, and UK comedian Dan Willis.
Seven spoke with them about just what
makes them tick…
What is the trickiest thing about being a bloke?
Linds: Dealing with the stigma left over from misogynist men from the past and trying to help/teach men with old attitudes to evolve.
Dan: Wearing mismatched socks. All my socks are black, thus I’m the only person that knows – but that just makes it better.
Greatest fashion fuck up?
Linds: I am not very fashionable at the best of times, but probably my button up woollen grey cardigan vest from 1998. Worn often with a black skivvy. It is gone now.
Dan: Deciding not to get ankle deep into leg warmers in 1986…
I could have been the fluorescent king, aged 13-and-a-half.
What do you do that annoys your wife?
Linds: Snore, overthink, drink beer!
Dan: Every so often I breathe out twice when I’ve only breathed in once. The lawyer bills are killing us.
Most romantic gesture you have ever initiated?
Linds: For my wife’s 40th I booked us into the Emporium in Brisbane. We went out for the evening. I organised the bar to be reopened for when we came back, and invited 20 of our friends for cocktails and hilarity!
Dan: I have remembered our wedding anniversary six times out of seven, which puts me in the top two per cent of all romantic men.
If you were a detective duo – who would you be?
Linds: Scooby Doo & Shaggy Rogers (I am Shaggy).
Dan: Hong Kong Phooey and Spot the Dog… I’d be Spot the Dog, he’s a genius.
Where’s your happy place?
Linds: On holidays with wife and children
Dan: I’m currently watching Happy Place on Netflix, which has just revealed that ****** thus I don’t trust happy places anymore.
How do you survive domestic chaos?
Linds: Survive? Do I? One day at a time. Make a list. Start early in the day. I am home alone during the day, so washing, cleaning etc is all mine. Mine I tell you!
Dan: By creating more chaos, it’s easier than you’d think…
Did you think this is how your life would end up? Married, domesticated – kids?
Linds: I grew up a chubby poor boy on an isolated sheep and cattle station. My life now is a fairytale compared to my childhood dreams!
Dan: It was either this or following my dream of being a pop star astronaut footballer. I think I made the correct choice for me, the music industry and football, but strangely enough not for NASA, they’re still a bit hurt by the rejection.
Lindsay Webb and Dan Willis perform Men Like Us on Saturday 12 December at Mullumbimby Ex-Services at 8pm. Tix $35 on womenlikeus.com.au
