Girl Meets Capitalism In Charmingly Apocalyptic Comedy Debut

Vanity Fair Enough is the charmingly apocalyptic comedy debut of writer and shopaholic Margot Tanjutco. An hour of original songs, sketch, and standup about sexy capitalism, the end of the world never looked so good at the upcoming Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

From taking online quizzes to find out Which Economic Ideology Are You to being caught in anxiety-driven online shopping sprees at 5 am, it's all fodder to chew on. Of course, Margot has also had to do a lot of research to create a show tackling topics like economics and the environment but that was part of its appeal.

"It's so much fun trying to understand everything. I read all these articles, books, journals and suddenly think I get it. Then it slips away. And I get it again! Then it's gone," she says.

Don't worry, though - the show won't be like a uni essay (much).Vanity Fair Enough often floats just above reality, inspired by both her own life and nerdy research. It's in that off-kilter world that her ideas best run riot.

A Communications major who has worked several social media stints for various arts orgs and fashion brands, you might assume Margot would be a cynic towards the world of advertising but she's the opposite: "I love self-invention and reinvention. Branding genuinely excites me. We are encouraged to want all sorts of things even if there's always a price to pay."

The show also explores some of Margot's discoveries working for an organisation that deals directly with people's stuff - how belongings shape lives and who has to deal with them when we die.

In this crazy world, it's the fleeting moments of clarity that nudge you in directions you think are best. In Vanity Fair Enough, those moments are mixed with Margot's own wacky propositions, sick beats, and many puns.

Music features prominently in the show, mostly her own compositions on electric guitar or electronic music software. Satirizing and celebrating genre is crucial to her and audiences can expect rock, R&B, pop, and even Hawaiian folk!

As a performer, Margot has also appeared as Juliet in critically-acclaimed electropop lesbian musical Romeo is Not the Only Fruit at The Coopers Malthouse for last year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Brisbane Festival. A proud millennial slashie, she has also performed more experimental work in art galleries as well as trained in improv and sketch comedy.

On what she wants Vanity Fair Enough to achieve, Margot hopes it will encourage people to be strange, bold, and question the world: "All I want is to make ethics sexy and the world revolutionary."

Vanity Fair Enough runs 9 - 21 April 2019 at The Coopers Malthouse for the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Book your tickets at www.comedyfestival.com.au/2019/shows/vanity-fair-enough.

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