There was one show that blew me away at last year’s Melbourne International Comedy Festival. A duo act that surprised me and had me in stitches. That being, Two Hearts with their show Till Death Do Us Part. Well, this married duo from New Zealand are back! Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore return with their chaotic musical comedy style with a whole new show titled, Don’t Stop Throbbing.
Playing at The Greek – Mezzanine during the first two weeks of the festival, I was excited to see a fresh new show from them. But at the same time, there’s that lingering feeling that it may not be as good as the previous show. I am pleased to announce that this new production is just as good, if not better!
At the centre of the stage is a DJ booth with a giant Two Hearts logo on the front, flanked by two television screens displaying a Two Hearts animated graphic. The stage bathed in blue light with 2000’s era chart hits playing through the speakers, it felt like I had stumbled upon a party from my high-school days. The volume swelled and The Corrs’ ‘Breathless’ took over the room before the stage went dark and the music stopped. Eager to see Two Hearts leap onto the stage, we got something else. An “Opening Act”.
It may or may not have been Lauren and Joseph, but it was one of the funniest openings to a comedy show I’ve experienced. It was so completely random, and I knew right then and there that this new show was going to knock the roof off!
Two Hearts’ brand of unhinged musical comedy is stronger than ever and continues to tackle the political and social issues that we all experience daily. From a track about Men’s Mental Health and how certain groups in society use it as a bullshit excuse, to an hilarious song about the pressures of having children when you don’t really want them.
There’s some audience participation too, but not in the way that you think. During one of the first numbers about wanting to take off our clothes, to take them to a Salvo’s because other people need them, this crazy duo then proceeded to seek donations from the audience. Sitting in the front row, I decided to oblige, taking off my Converse shoes and popping them in the bag. But then they simply threw the bag off stage and there I was, sitting without any shoes on!
I honestly lost count of how many original songs Two Hearts performed, with each as good as the other. Although, there was one that really stood out. That being a song about the preachiness of being a Vegetarian and how Joseph would never eat something that had a face, complete with hilarious graphics that were thrown up onto the screens. But then went full metal with the chorus exclaiming he’s a pescatarian and proceeded to scream “FUCK FISH!” Like a man possessed, Joseph was bounding around the stage in full screamo-mode about how much he hated the creatures of the sea.
Not to be outdone, Laura also has her big moment during the show, with a fresh new musical that she had written titled ‘Four’ that is 100% totally not a rip off of Six the Musical.
Right from the beginning of Two Hearts’ Don’t Stop Throbbing, I was laughing so hard that it sent me into a coughing fit. From start to fish, my sides were hurting, my face hurt from smiling, and my knees were turning red from slapping them so hard in fits of hysterics. Two Hearts’ original and chaotic lyrics are a step up from their previous show. I have no idea how these legends keep coming up with these wacky topics, but they all 100% make complete sense and leave you thinking about the state of the world we live in and what scary future lies ahead.
Two Hearts’ Don’t Stop Throbbing is easily one of the best musical comedy themed shows that I have seen. Even topping their show from last year! I don’t know how Laura and Joseph keep doing it, but they have surprised me yet again. Their brand of hilarious, high octane, chaotically relatable comedy is by far the best in the business.
And with Two Hearts’ Don’t Stop Throbbing only playing in the first half of the festival, there’s not much time left to catch this king and queen of musical comedy! Trust me, this is not one to skip.
Oh, and don’t worry, after sitting in the front row without my shoes for the entire show, I did get them back. They also have merch available at the end of the show and the two are completely 100% unrelated…
Don’t Stop Throbbing by Laura Daniel and Joseph Moore of Two Hearts is performing now at The Greek – Mezzanine, as part of the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, until Sunday the 6th of April. Tuesday to Saturday shows at 7:10pm and Sunday shows at 6:20pm.
Two Hearts have also announced extra shows on Friday the 11th and 18th of April at a fine late session of 10:15pm.
For more information and ticketing, visit:
https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/don-t-stop-throbbing
https://www.instagram.com/twoheartscomedy
Photography supplied.