Apr 123 min read

Mel & Sam: The Platonic Human Centipede - Melbourne International Comedy Festival 2024 (VIC)

Written and performed by Mel O'Brien and Samantha Andrew. Music and Lyrics by Mel O'Brien and Samantha Andrew.

Reviewed by Justin Clarke

The Toff in Town - Lvl 2 Curtain House 252 Swanston St, Melbourne

Until 14th April, 2024

Tickets: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/2024/shows/the-platonic-human-centipede

Lean into the madness at this Melbourne Comedy Festival show and prepare to be ass to mouth with the iconic platonic soulmates that are Mel & Sam

The iconic duo, musical theatre lovers, podcasters, queer comedians, and platonic soul mates Mel O’Brien and Samantha Andrew are back at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival to take you on a journey through the world of iconic ass-eating duos you most likely forgot about.

If that description makes you take pause, fear not, because Mel and Sam’s dads both had the same reaction! The Platonic Human Centipede makes reference to soul mates that are joined so tightly together they’re basically ass to mouth instead of hip to hip. Move over Hamish and Andy, because Mel and Sam are here to give us more duos to make us laugh our absolute asses off!

Mel and Sam have gone from strength to strength in their original shows, with their previous show High Pony receiving rave reviews from audiences and critics. The Platonic Human Centipede showcases what makes them both great both as a duo and individually, and amplifies the madness to Slay.

They are as iconic as the name of the show describes and are destined for comedy glory both individually and as an ass-eating arthropodic pair.

Andrew’s track composition takes full control of setting the show’s energy before the duo even take to the stage. A deep house styled anthem of Toy Story’s ‘You Got A Friend In Me’ pumps through The Toff in Town, raising the energy to the roof and setting the tempo of what’s to come.

Written by both O’Brien and Andrew, the pair hone in on highlighting their voices throughout with the both swapping and changing harmonies at different times so fluently your ears will thank you. All of this brings you tunes you won’t get out of your head and will make you embarrassed to sing around the office. ‘Eat My Ass’ won’t be one to hum around the water cooler anytime soon. Others such as ‘Mid Music Theatre Boy’ and ‘World of F*gatronication’ will have you howling and bopping along both at the same time.

Amidst all the madness and musical stylings, there are moments where the pair pause and rest with slow building sketches, such as the Clause’s couples therapy, Polly the Polyamorous Doll and Bart and Lisa Simpson trying on hats. They’re also not afraid to venture into dangerous territory, a Bindi and Robert Irwin sketch hurt deeply but still drew laughter from every person in the room.

What makes Mel & Sam so damn loveable is there absolute madcap, zero fucks attitude in shying away from pushing the laughs to the extreme without ever being offensive. They are as iconic as the name of the show describes and are destined for comedy glory both individually and as an ass-eating arthropodic pair.