There is something wonderfully entertaining about watching a woman turn divorce, dating disasters and a narcissistic ex into an hour of sharp comedy and seriously good singing.
In MILF and Cookies, Marilyn Leder returns to the stage after The MILF Next Door, again drawing on the experiences of a “50-something Jewish mamma” navigating the complications of dating. This time, her material ranges across relationships, mishaps and the frustrations that come with trying to find romance later in life.
Leder is a natural storyteller. Heartbreak, younger men, divorce and the peculiar experience of dating a narcissist become fuel for a performer who knows how to find the funny without losing sight of the ridiculousness of it all. Even turning to artificial intelligence for relationship advice becomes comic gold when ChatGPT love-bombs her into dumping him.
Leder has a terrific voice and delivers a series of cleverly reworked favourites, including I Love the Nightlife (No More a Housewife), Barracuda (Jewish Law Student), All the Young Dudes (All the Young Jews), Highway to Hell (Highway to Help) and Valerie (Hot Messy). The familiar tunes provide the perfect vehicle for Leder’s irreverent observations, while her vocal ability ensures the numbers are more than comic throwaways.
There is also a satisfying edge to Leder’s take-down of the comedy boys’ club. She knows what it means to be underestimated and responds in the best possible way: by taking the microphone and owning the stage.
With dramaturgy by multi-award-winning Geraldine Quinn, direction by Jeremy Stanford and choreography by Robert Sturrock, MILF and Cookies is tightly constructed and moves at a brisk pace. Leder switches effortlessly between storytelling and song, maintaining a lively connection with the audience throughout.
There is a generosity to Leder’s comedy, and her observations rarely feel mean-spirited. Instead, they come from a performer who has clearly decided that if life is going to throw her a few rotten cookies, she might as well bake them into a show.
MILF and Cookies is a deliciously funny reminder that sometimes the best revenge is getting the last laugh.
MILF and Cookies
Classic Southside, 9 Gordon Street, Elsternwick
Season: 3 – 11 October 2026
Information and Bookings: www.melbournefringe.com.au
Festival Hub: Trades Hall – Archive Room, Corner Lygon and Victoria Streets, Carlton
Season: 14 – 15 October 2026
Information and Bookings: www.melbournefringe.com.au
Image: Marilyn Leder in MILF and Cookies – photo by Rohan Shearn
Review: Rohan Shearn