Things I love:

• Gin
• History
• Gin
• Music
• Comedy
• Gin
• Cabaret shows combining all of the above.

The wondrous women behind Lady Sings It Better are back in Melbourne for the Cabaret Festival, premiering their new brainchild, ‘Mother’s Ruin‘.

Maeve Marsden and Libby Wood have the years of training and background knowledge needed for the audience to have complete confidence in their grasp of the subject matter. Hell, I think I’ve only had maybe five types of gin in my life, and I left the show knowing there are enough variations to fill a whole three-part rap.

The third member of the cast (unfortunately not pictured on the flyers) was the magnificent Jeremy Brennan, playing perfectly charismatic piano and adding to the comedic brilliance. Together the three flit between comic chemistry and flawless vocals, along with the never ending revealing of places you can hide tiny bottles of gin (I maintain forever that bras largely exist as flask storage facilities).

Unsurprisingly, the history of gin has been riddled with rumour and scandal, alongside a healthy dose of turpentine. ‘Mother’s Ruin’ is like an all singing comedy Wikipedia article, only with a few expletives edited in by high school students. You’re not only going along to learn the history of your favourite tipple though – there are sing-alongs, a mandatory Amy Winehouse cover that had me swooning just a little, and an endless amount of beautiful singing by all three. (But particularly Marsden and Wood, who are alarmingly close to perfection with their harmonies.)

And, most importantly, it’s the Butterfly Club so you can get yourself a gin or three after the show.

– Jasmin
Jasmin Ashton is a PR whiz and freelance writer/designer from Melbourne who has a lot of feelings about pretty much everything. Find them at @Jasmanna.

‘Mother’s Ruin’ runs 14-19 June at the Butterfly Club. Buy tickets now.
The venue is not accessible.

Read our guide to the best acts of the 2016 Melbourne Cabaret Festival.

Disclosure: The Plus Ones were invited guests of Purple Media.
Photo credit: Lady Sings It Better.