“STOLE A CROISSANT FROM HUGH JACKMAN WHILST LOOKING HIM DEAD IN THE CROTCH? JUST ME? COOL” – MEL OWEN

By Tanya Howard | Founder, The Live Review London · @glamglitzlondon ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Chunky Monkey. It’s a title that grabs attention and makes you do a double take, am I right?! Of all the names Mel Owen could have chosen, why that one? It’s bold, thought-provoking, and unapologetically cheeky, much like Mel herself. As the name suggests, this isn’t your standard standup; it’s a show packed with hilarity, brutal honesty, and a side of sweet chaos.

From the moment Mel bounded onto the stage at the London Welsh Centre, she had the audience in the palm of her hand. Her infectious energy and wit set the tone for an evening where no topic was off-limits, and every punchline landed with delightful precision. Before Mel’s set she introduced her warm-up act for the evening, Caryl Burke.

“PEOPLE THINK HAVING BIG BOOBS IS THIS GREAT THING, AND LET ME TELL YOU… IT IS” – CARYL BURKE

A fellow Welsh comedian, Caryl was the perfect warm-up, delivering a short but impactful set. Let me tell you, she is one to watch! Her dating horror stories had me in stitches. Like, she got the ick because a bloke hopped off a train with both feet. Which to be fair, I totally get, the mental image alone is enough! And her comeback of God giving her great tits instead of a personality when someone messaged to say she looked boring, iconic! I’d love to see her in a full-length set.

Following a short break, Mel Owen returned to the stage with the energy of someone who could talk your ear off at the pub for hours, and you’d love every second. But with a bad back, from what she could only guess as being from sitting funny on the sofa, relatable! She had that rare quality of making the room feel like her living room, weaving between stories about her childhood in Wales and her relatable yet cringe-worthy dating experiences.

One standout story involved her discovering her race embarrassingly late. A discovery her Mum could have made far less dramatic had she mentioned it earlier. Cue a hilarious tale of young Mel in a school nativity, where she was the only snowman painted white. Mum’s reasoning? She was the head snowman. And her ego told her it made complete sense that she would be chosen as head snowman.

“MEN ARE ALL THE SAME HEIGHT WHEN THEY LET YOU DOWN” – MEL OWEN

The reason for the show’s title had the whole room audibly gasping. It was a proper “oh no, he didn’t” moment. But it was Mel’s reaction that had those gasps swiftly dissolving into laughter. Mel had a great way of balancing light and dark. She skilfully mocked the ridiculousness of prejudice, skewers liberal guilt when it suited her, and still kept things deeply personal.

Her dating stories were painfully relatable and riotously funny. Although, I can happily say I’ve never dated a man who ended up in the Daily Mail for head-butting a horse. Yes, that really happened to Mel! She also talked about feminism and how she can physically feel it leaving her body in certain situations, like when faced with DIY. I mean, come on, we’ve all been there, right?

Now, I’ll be honest, some of the jokes had setups that felt a bit too long. Don’t get me wrong, the punchlines were worth it, but I did have moments of “Get to it, Mel!”. That said, my mate completely disagreed, so it’s highly likely I’m just severely impatient. However, her comedic voice is fresh, and her ability to connect with the audience makes her a promising new comedian.

Mel Owen is going places, and Chunky Monkey proves why. She’s relatable, bold, cheeky, and hilarious. Whether she’s mocking dumb racism, roasting herself, or making you question if you’d survive an encounter with Hugh Jackman, she’s got a knack for keeping you hooked. I’m excited to see where she goes next. Just make sure you’re really clear if you ever tell her to try some food. IYKYK!

Check out Mel on Instagram

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