#NotAllMen is a stand-up show by comedian Esther Manito that takes us on a journey from the lad’s culture of the ’90s to the Twitter, “not all men” trolls of today. Esther reflects on toxic masculinity from all stages of life; from cock-n-ball graffiti in school to having men on the internet bombarded her with #NotAllMen. She also weaves in stories from her experiences as a wife and mother and her Middle Eastern heritage that give us more access into her personality and life.
Robin Thicke’s Blurred Lines blared as I walked through the venue. I think most people have the same awkward reaction to that song; “Eeek, remember the misogynistic lyrics, never mind the controversial video where everyone’s naked- well except the men”. I loved how forward and brash Esther was about it! She knows what connotations we have with this song and she said, “yeah it’s shit, let’s talk about it”. It really sent the tone for the performance.
The title of this show is ambiguous. On the one hand, you may think you’ve accidentally booked tickets to some strange incel rally, or like me, you may think you’re about to watch some radical feminism comedy and leave the theatre fighting any man in sight. Well, neither are true! Esther Manito has a great way of calling out toxic masculinity in a funny, relatable way. She reminds us that she is the mother, wife and daughter of fantastic men in her life! She knows that it’s #NotAllMen but as she says, that’s #NotThePoint.
Her show is also filled with moments that are so relatable and so funny that you felt it solidify our ‘sisterhood’. One of my favourite segments was her story about shaving and sprucing up before a smear test. We all do it, but why do we do it? The nurse is hardly going to care, but all of us feel the exact same way. She then revealed she had accidentally sprayed her nether regions with glitter spray instead of Febreze. Little stories like this resonate with so many of us and it makes us realise how conditioned we are by the patriarchy to have the perfect genitals that we accidentally end up with a sparkly noony.
Her stories about her family were refreshing. Some might say she steered off the feminist path, but I found she linked it all back well. From her experience of planning her husband’s social calendar to the stress of her Middle Eastern family fighting over who pays the food bill, she brought it all back to the main focus.
Esther’s delivery was very warm and upbeat. From the minute we walked into the venue, she was dancing and smiling (and handing out homemade fans- what a queen). There were a few moments where I felt she had a few pauses and maybe she dipped but that could be down to the pressure of being back at the Fringe or the insufferable heat of every Fringe venue this year. There’s room for things to be tightened and for the jokes to pack a bit more of a punch. She has great material and a great concept, but it could be executed a bit better.
Esther Manito’s #NotAllMen is one to watch this Fringe if you love fighting the patriarchy whilst laughing about nostalgic and relatable experiences as a woman.
Esther Manito’s #NotAllMen is playing at the Gilded Balloon Teviot on Aug 10-15, 18-29. You can buy your tickets here https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/esther-manito-notallmen
Theatre Scotland 
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