Recovering Eldest Daughter review | Rachel Tunaley | Melbourne International Comedy Festival | The Motley Spielhaus

Through centuries of daughterhood, the eldest daughter has been destined (or cursed?) for a life of perfectionism, high achievement, and anxiety. Rachel Tunaley is no different, as the eldest daughter of her family. However, when her sibling comes out as transgender, she believes she has been freed from the expectations that once defined her. Little does she know. In her new cabaret, Recovering Eldest Daughter, Tunaley takes the audience on a candid, humorous, and personal journey through mental health, identity, and the process of unlearning lifelong pressures as she searches for who she is beyond the role she was raised to fulfil.



Now the middle sister, Tunaley gleefully visits the Prophet of the Eldest Daughter to relinquish the eldest daughter label, only to be informed that too much time has passed and the title cannot simply be given away. No, there is only one way this can happen. She must learn to heal her inner child. Easier said than done. This prompts her to examine her past behaviours, thoughts, and relationships, confronting the patterns that have shaped her and the anxieties she has long carried.

As with her previous show, Motion Sickness, Tunaley brings plenty of laughs and wit to her songs. She reflects on being a drama queen, the intrusive 'thots' that enter her mind, and her tendency to mother the men she dates, all of which, despite being grounded in pop and rap-inflected tracks, reveal her vulnerability and the underlying emotional honesty at the core of her music. Tunaley displays a playful creativity in her songwriting, with sharp wordplay and a wonderful use of pop culture references, including a nod to good ol' Bob Katter.

Tunaley acts out scenes with her family members, including her sister coming out as transgender, as well as with her therapist. These exchanges are supported by pre-recorded dialogue for both her family members and therapist, allowing her to shift fluidly between performance and narrative while building a layered, character-driven world on stage.

The twist in the final act of her quest to shed her title is cleverly conceived, though it could do with a small rewrite to land fully. The Labubu moment arrives a little unexpectedly, reading as a deus ex machina that wraps things up a bit too cleanly rather than growing naturally from the story that comes before it.

Recovering Eldest Daughter is a thoughtful and entertaining exploration of identity, expectation, and the ongoing task of letting go of the roles we are handed. Tunaley balances humour with sincerity, using music, character work, and self-reflection to navigate personal territory without losing a sense of play. The strength of her songwriting and performance ensures this cabaret remains engaging and resonant. It is a compelling reminder that stepping out of a role does not automatically set you free, and that true recovery lies in doing the internal work, even when it is messy, continuous, and far from neatly resolved.

Read our interview with Rachel here.

SHOW DETAILS

Venue: The Motley Spielhaus, Berrbang Lane & Kulinbulok Lane, Melbourne
Season: until 19 April | 8:30pm

Duration: 55 minutes
Tickets: $34 Full | $29 Conc
 | $27 Tightarse Tuesday
Bookings: Melbourne International Comedy Festival