After her critically acclaimed debut show ‘Money Princess’ in 2023, Mary O’Connell is back with ‘Dilly Dally’ at the Pleasance Courtyard, directed by BBC New Comedy Award winner Heidi Regan. Mary's performance style is a mix of observational annoyance combined with a left-field view of the world that makes for hilarious and often absurd material.
Mary doesn’t feel like a grown-up. She’s at engaged age, NOT marriage age; there’s a difference! She feels even less like a grown-up because she lives with her parents and also her boyfriend…in the same house…alongside her brother and sister. Mary has decided that her boyfriend is ‘the one’, but before they can start their big life together in their own flat, they have to live with both sets of parents for six months.... ‘Dilly Dally’ is a show about childhood, being the eldest daughter, and figuring out how to create a new family while still living with your old one.
Mary also has to deal with the fact that her cooler, younger, Gen Z sister is getting married before her. Albeit she’s getting married to herself in a ceremony in their garden but the significance of the ritual is not lost on Mary. She’s terrified of the future and feels like she’s failing miserably at adulthood, whereas her sister laughs in the face of grown-up partnerships - like being married to an actual other person - and has decided in an act of self-love to do it alone.
As the eldest daughter in an interracial family, Mary has always felt pressure to do well at school and be successful in life, but right now she feels like a failure. This show explores two generations of interracial couples living in the same house and the inevitable culture clashes.
Mary O'Connell is an award-winning comedian and writer. Her debut solo hour Money Princess was a sell-out run at London’s Soho Theatre. She has supported Tig Notaro, Sophie Duker and Harriet Kemsley on tour and performed at last year’s Latitude Festival.
Mary O’Connell’s Dilly Dally will be at the Pleasance Courtyard Attic at 7.15pm from July 30 - August 24. Buy tickets here.
What is the last thing you do before you go onstage (apart from check your flies and/or check your knickers aren't sticking out of your skirt and check for spinach between your teeth)
I start my watch. I’ve never been that good at knowing how long time is so the idea of going onstage without having my watch recording how long I’ve been up there is terrifying. One time I was on tour opening for a comedian I really loved and looked up to and on the way to the gig my watch broke and I had a panic attack at the station. I couldn’t tell you how long my panic attack was, because I didn’t have a working watch.
What irritates you?
People who have their whatsapp read receipts off. Who are these grey tick buttheads? Why do you think you’re better than me? What makes you so much more special than the rest of us who are happy to let that sweet sweet colour blue emerge when we’ve read a text?
I think if more people texted me I’d have a reason to be a grey tick geezer but for now I’m your blue tick buddy.
What is the most dangerous thing you have ever done?
Dated a comedian? That was emotionally the most dangerous thing I’ve ever done. In the more traditional sense of danger, I went on a group holiday to Thailand when I was 19, as every basic British person does, which I proudly am. It was a really fun trip but when you’re young you feel stupidly invincible. One of the nights there we went to a party in the jungle and the bartender from our hostel gave us a ride there in his pick-up truck. Most of my friends were in the indoor bit of the car (I don’t really know much about car terminology) but me and one other friend decided to sit on the sides of the back of the truck, not inside, we perched on the side of the car as our bartender-cum-driver drove us round literal mountains. I still have no idea how I was able to return home from that holiday with no injuries.
What is the most stupid thing you have ever done?
Dated a comedian? I continue to surprise myself with my own stupidity. I’m quite a gullible person generally. I tried to survive at music festival on only pitta bread and lucozade one time, but I was only 17. I dyed my hair blue in a fit of rage as an angsty teen. I don’t recommend dyeing your hair while angry but if we all followed that advice then a lot less people would have blue hair.
What has surprised you the most during your career in comedy?
The thing I find surprising is the genuine friendships and connections I have with the other scumbags who also perform live comedy. Also I’ve never really lost my laugh. I am an easy laugh but the fact that I’ve stayed an easy laugh despite watching thousands of hours of comedy. I still take so much joy in laughing.
What do your parents/children (delete as applicable) think of your job?
I’m very lucky in that my parents have always been very supportive of me. They’re so supportive that when they come to my shows, they sit right in the front so I can see their faces in full for the whole show. They don’t laugh, if they supported me through their laughter that would be nice but you can’t have everything.
What’s the worst thing about being a comedian?
I think being so reliant on British transport for my livelihood is one of the worst things. It’s quite a lonely job and you have to make a lot of social sacrifices to make it work.
I think you are very good at what you do (that’s why I’m asking these questions). What do you think of you?
I think I could be really good if I worked harder. I also wish I believed in myself a bit more. You really have to back yourself to do this job and sort of just persevere through.
How much do you earn and how much would you like to earn?
Lol I’ll never tell. I’d like to earn a vulgar amount of money though. Don’t worry though I’m very charitable.
How important is luck in terms of career success – have you had lucky breaks?
I think luck is maybe part of the journey to success, you can luckily be in the right place at the right time and maybe the right person sees you perform, but you still have to be a good performer. The beautiful thing about stand up is that you have to constantly prove yourself, you can’t just be funny
Alan Davies has said that comedians fall into two categories - golfers and self-harmers. The former just get on with life, the latter are tortured artists. Which are you – or do you think you fit into third category?
Oh I’m 100% a tortured artist. I have to say that to myself to excuse how much of a drama queen I am.
Who is your favourite person ever and why – not including family or friends or other comedians?
I love Mariah Carey. She’s actually hilarious and one of the greatest voices that’s blessed the face of the earth.
Do you keep your drawers tidy and if not why not? (please think long and hard about this question, it's to settle an argument with my girlfriend. The future of our relationship could depend on your response).
No. Everything in my drawers is something that I’ve ‘put away’ so as to make it look like my surfaces are tidy. Tidy surfaces, messy drawers. Calm on the top but treading water in a panic on the bottom.
Mary O’Connell’s Dilly Dally will be at the Pleasance Courtyard Attic at 7.15pm from July 30 - August 24. Buy tickets here.
PICTURE CREDIT – RACHEL SHERLOCK
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