Anything But The Dyson and Other Excellent Monologues review | Katrina Mathers | Melbourne International Comedy Festival | Trainscendence

The first thing you notice about Katrina Mathers’ set is how 'Fifty Shades of Pink' the dressing room inspired design is, every surface drenched in it, right down to her outfit, with only her purple shoes daring to break rank. They do not stay on for long, though, as Mathers launches into a series of monologues on menopause and the other particular delights middle age throws your way.



Anything But The Dyson and Other Excellent Monologues is Mathers’ first show in 23 years, but you would not know it. She is completely at ease on stage, slipping seamlessly into character and impressions of doctors and newsreaders, with a confidence that suggests she has never been away.



The show consists of a perceptive and varied collection of monologues, some written by Mathers, and others by a half dozen different women. What unites them is how clearly they reflect her experiences of menopause, cancer, and ageing, allowing her to deliver each monologue as though it were drawn directly from her own life. These are singular perspectives with universal impact.

Under the direction of Roz Hammond, each piece is given its own distinct tone while still carrying emotional weight. There are broad comedic beats alongside quietly powerful ones, including the monologue Face, written by Mathers herself. It is brief, but it encapsulates how getting older is not just loss, but a record of achievements, battles, and love.



Due to the memory issues that can come with menopause, Mathers uses a 'cheat sheet' for her set list. It is two pieces of white paper stuck to cardboard in plain black text, and while it cuts through the pinkness of the set, its stark presence serves as a subtle reinforcement of the realities the show is engaging with.

Anything But the Dyson lands at a time when stories about changing bodies, shifting identity and illness are increasingly recognised as part of life, rather than something to be hidden or glossed over. It treats these lived experiences as funny, sharp and central, instead of private or peripheral. A closing monologue on swimming is beautifully realised by Mathers and Hammond, bringing together humour and vulnerability in a way that lands with heart.

Regardless of age, gender, or health, Anything But the Dyson and Other Excellent Monologues is a warm, funny and moving performance, balancing candid comedy with scenes of genuine tenderness. It trusts its material, its performer, and its audience to sit with the laughs and the honesty. What could easily be a collection of disparate voices coheres into something personal and reflective, a reminder that midlife is not a quiet fade-out, but a stage still full of noise, colour and stories worth telling.

Anything But The Dyson and Other Excellent Monologues was performed at Trainscendence between 26 March - 19 April 2026, as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

Image credit: Brent Lukey