Mel McGlensey is one of Seattle’s hottest up and comers on the comedy scene. She shines in her self-penned one-woman show, “Mel McGlensey is Normal” at The Bally in Gluttony, situated in malodorous Rymill Park. This performance is a collaboration with the Adelaide Fringe Festival, happening February 20— March 1. McGlensey chronicles her journey with equal parts humor and heartfelt storytelling. This process has closely paralleled her romance with Doug—the two were married in California earlier this year.
2022, McGlensey captured the ideal image on Peggy Beach in Inverloch. To top off the adventure, he proposed to Doug with a spectacular sapphire engagement ring that reflected the color of the deep blue sea. This early romantic gesture would become a turning point in their relationship. It came on the heels of an unexpected love story that began when they first crossed paths a few years back.
Back then, in 2015, McGlensey was in her early 20s and living in New York City. By that time, she had established a successful career as a full-time journalist while performing stand-up comedy most nights. When she started to feel unsatisfied in her work, she made the move back to Melbourne only a few months before Covid lockdowns hit. The timing couldn’t have been better. It returned her to Doug, who was eventually just after the long-distance relationship they maintained for two years came to be would have already been offered work in Melbourne.
Their love thrived even through the hardships of a long-distance relationship. McGlensey remembers her first date with Amy well, saying it was unlike any other McGlensey had been on before. Telling Doug in jest, she decided that it was time to leave her job and take a year-long trip around the world on foot—beginning in Australia. As her relationship with her partner evolved, so did her priorities.
I still remember realizing on our second date, ‘You’re kissing the guy you’re gonna marry,’” she mused. Yet that realization marked a pivotal point in her life, sealing the deal on her affection for Doug.
Though the couple remained strong, they experienced their share of hardships, including the emotional hardship of long-distance living. On the morning McGlensey departed from Melbourne, the two friends exchanged a teary goodbye filled with emotion that would affect both for years. During one of her stopovers in Thailand, Doug sent her a playlist that resonated deeply, reminding her of their connection despite the miles between them.
While Doug was off on deployment, McGlensey turned her spare room into a kitty nursery. Their clownish mischief brought laughter and warmth to her life during their years apart. The desire for one another never stopped. Their commitment was finally rewarded when Doug’s job opportunity came through to move to Melbourne, giving them the chance to close the gap for good.
By the time their wedding day arrived in 2023, McGlensey couldn’t help but get emotional thinking back. She flipped her journal and reread a favorite post about their second date. This deep internal view showcased both the development of his character and exploration of the strength and intimacy of their relationship many years later.