“Sometimes people hate your show even though they laughed the whole time.”
WHO: Mark Vigeant
WHAT: “You’re cordially invited to this interactive polyamorous wedding reception, where the groom’s brother delivers a speech you’ll never forget! It starts out fun and silly, with your typical masculine roasting and ribbing – and gradually devolves into a drunken chaotic mess where Paul tries to understand what it means to love, but can’t get over his own toxic masculinity to recognize his loneliness. ‘A solo performance that defines the phrase(s) tour-de-force and comedy masterclass’ ***** (TheReviewsHub.com). ‘The kind of laughing where you think you might just lose it completely’ ***** (TheSMUReviews.co.uk).”
WHERE: The Crate at Assembly George Square (Venue 8)
WHEN: 22:20 (60 min)
MORE: Click Here!
Is this your first time to Edinburgh?
This is actually my third time around at Edinburgh Fringe in as many years. In 2023 I got my ass absolutely handed to me – I was in a wacky timeslot in a bad venue and was just totally in over my head. But I saw art that totally changed my life, and I grew as an artist and a human. It motivated me to write a totally new show that I brought to Edinburgh last year – and I had the time of my life. This festival is just so extremely beautiful. There truly is nothing like it. You can see some of the best, craziest, silliest, stupidest, worst, most horrible art in one afternoon – over and over again. You can do your best work to an audience of 3 who never forget you, and then perform for 120 the next day who hate your guts. It’s unbelievable.
What are the big things you’ve learned since 2024 and have you absorbed any of the lessons yet?
The size of the audience doesn’t matter.
Most of the big reviews people get are because they spent a lot of money.
Sometimes people love a show without laughing.
Sometimes people hate your show even though they laughed the whole time.
Sleep is important.
No I haven’t internalized any of these lessons.
Tell us about your show.
My show is called “The Best Man Show.” It’s a solo clowny character piece where I play the best man at a polyamorous wedding, giving a speech that totally falls apart. In the process, I cast audience members to play roles in the wedding.
I wrote it, and developed it with my director Joanna Simmons. It premiered at the 2024 New Zealand Fringe, and I’ve performed it 64 times on 3 different continents including at Edinburgh last year, the SoHo Playhouse in New York City, and a friend’s backyard outside of Denver, Colorado.
After Fringe, I plan on taking this to the New York Comedy Festival, as well as a select few other tour locations – and sometime in the winter the show will come out as a special on Dropout.TV
What should your audience see at the festivals after they’ve seen your show?
Woody Fu: 1-man John Wick is absolutely amazing, I love it. It’s in the same venue as me (Assembly George Square: The Crate) about 2 hours earlier.
Mr Chonkers by John Norris over at Summerhall is a must-see.
I’m VERY excited to see my Dylan Adler: Haus of Dy-lan and Cat Cohen: Broad Strokes.
Oh, and you should all see the very stupid and perfect “Just to be Close to You”.
These are all stupid and fun and silly American shows that are amazing!!!!!
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