SARAH Harpur and Jim Stanton recommend wrapping your child’s head in gladwrap.
“I find it locks in essential moisture and keeps those nasty flies at bay. It is frowned upon in today’s society to have flyblown children with crow’s feet and liver spots,” says Harpur.
Don’t send in the lynch squad yet, however. Harpur and Stanton are The Comediettes, a female comedy duo with a sometimes ‘bizarre’ sense of humour.
Their latest act that features at the Fringe Festival, Better Living! provides a humorous stab at the tragic phenomena of home help infomercials.
“Traditional home-hints and good housekeeping are a great genre to subvert, as dangerous levels of cleanliness and forced smiles are tragi-comedy to begin with,” says Stanton.
Better Living! includes live ballads, hot tea, and handy hints including, “for the ultimate gingerbread man, try cooking a ginger man”.
It may also include inspiration from the things the ladies say they do to make their living better.
“I like to compete with my son. He’s only eight, so I can beat him at most things, and it makes me feel good about myself,” admits Harpur.
Stanton, on the other hand, constantly carries a tea bag in her wallet.
“I don’t want to meet a nice young man and take him home and then not have a decent cuppa on hand – how embarrassing,” she laughs. “If the kettle’s not on – it’s not on. Better Living!”
The duo agrees there has been a “boys club” attitude to comedy in the past, but say the scene is fast-changing.
“Female comics are regarded as being at the top of their game at the moment – UK’s Janey Godley, US’s Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Australia’s Hannah Gadsby…Oh, and I heard something about the Comediettes,” laughs Stanton.
Harpur says the pair fit right in anyway.
“I think it’s because I love eating steak and other forms of animal. Although, Jim is a vegetarian, but she has a boy’s name and does karate.”
Stanton says while smart and funny women are abound in the world, it takes a smart, funny and brave woman to become a comedienne. Neither of The Comediettes has a problem with dignity.
“I always had something to say, but as a quiet teenager I was a great observer rather than unleashing my thoughts. [That] resulted in some pretty overwrought folk songs,” laughs Stanton. “It turns out learning four chords came in handy for my Comediette uke playing – perhaps one day Paddocks Can’t Soak Up My Tears will be released on EP.”
The Comediettes’ Better Living! Fringe Bar, 17-20 February.