/ Don't hate the media, become the media.
Jello Biafra

ZOO Playground - Playground 2

COMEDY / SOLO / INTERACTIVE  

Aug 9-12, 14-25: TICKETS

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AUG 6, 2024 ​

The Best Man Show is an interactive and darkly hilarious wedding reception where comedian Mark Vigeant plays the Groom's brother Paul, who has been asked to give the toast at an untraditional polyamorous commitment ceremony. It starts out fun and silly, with your typical masculine roasting and ribbing, and slowly devolves into a drunken existential crisis where Paul tries desperately to understand what it means to love, but can't get over his own masculinity to recognise how lonely he is. Filled with laughter, dancing, clowning, bubbles, audience participation, and more.

Winner: Best Comedy, Hollywood Fringe 2024.

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Hi Mark, this is amazing, two years, two shows, incredible to get the opportunity to talk with you again, how’s your fringe been going?

Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me again, it’s been quite a year. Fringe has gotten off to a brilliant start — I’m having a BLAST.

We spoke last year ahead of Mark Pleases You, what was your debut fringe experience like?

I would describe it as intense. It was at the same time really overwhelming and difficult— AND extremely inspiring and beautiful. Everything was so new to me and I just continually ran into moments where I thought, “Oh, I could have prepared for this better.” When I got back to the US, I realised I was such a better performer, and had developed such a deep appreciation for ANY audience size.

What where your top three high and low lights?

Highs:
the time my therapist came to my show (he just happened to be traveling in Scotland) and told me how beautiful it was
seeing The Amazing Banana Brothers — that show rocked and inspired me so much.
the chocolate. Specifically Mars bars and Crunchie Rocks.
Lows:
The time I burst into tears flyering in the rain in Grassmarket wondering what I was doing with my life (a rite of passage)
Nearly losing my voice the first week.
Getting trapped at the Dublin airport on my way home because all the air traffic controls in all of the UK shut down for some reason.

Coming back to the fringe what do you think you leaned last year that’s going to help you in year two?

Flyering is effective, especially if you make it fun and unique. That said, it can be physically demanding, so you have to pace yourself (something I’m not always great at). It’s a gift if ONE person decides to give their time and money to see you perform. Don’t take any audience for granted. Nobody owes you anything.

Relax! This can be extremely fun if you allow it to be. It’s the biggest performing arts festival on the planet. There are so many amazing people and shows here. Let the experience take you away.

What does Edinburgh Fringe mean to you?

In New York, they say, “If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.” That’s how I feel about it here. It’s a place to get stronger as a performer. My friend John Norris called it Artist Summer Camp and I agree with that. It’s a place to completely immerse yourself in performance art— and we are considerably privileged to get to be here.

Did you imagine you’d win Best Comedy at the Hollywood Fringe 2024?

I knew my show was good, I knew it was at least good enough to be in the conversation. When I was nominated I was flattered- the other shows I was alongside were FANTASTIC. Woody Fu’s one-man John Wick, Rachel Troy’s Baby, Piotr Sikora’s Furiozo to name a few. To be listed alongside those shows felt soooo good. I was on my way to the awards ceremony and really didn’t think I’d win. When they called my name, I was stunned. So happy. The pictures from the event really captured how thrilled I was.

What went through your mind when they called out your name?

Oh my goodness it was just pure bliss and adrenaline. I felt so validated and seen. Listen, awards aren’t why I do this. But to be able to put that laurel on my poster and talk about it in Edinburgh, it really helps me convince people I’m worth their time. It gets folks to perk up and listen to my pitch. I knew exactly how helpful it was going to be for me when they called my name and I was just ecstatic.

Can you tell me a little bit about how The Best Man Show came about, what inspired you to bring this new show to the festival?

When I got home last year, I knew I had to come back and employ everything I’d learned. I had been so inspired by shows like Bill O’Neil’s Amazing Banana Brothers and Courtney Paruso’s Vanessa 5000– clowny, structured one person character shows with no fourth wall and fun safe audience interaction. I wanted to make my own. Furthermore, Mark Pleases You taught me so much about myself, I wanted to dive back into the artistic experience and learn more. I wanted to write about love, and this show just came out of me exploring all sorts of ways love shows up in my life.

What has been the most challenging aspect of bringing The Best Man Show to the festival?

I’m a one-man production. I mean- my director Joanna Simmons is an indispensable creative partner, without whom I’d be stuck in a ditch somewhere. But in terms of production, it’s all me. I don’t have a publicist. I don’t have a flyering team. I’m not famous. Every person in that audience is someone I flyered, or who heard about my show from a friend, or saw me on another show. Every prop is something I made or bought. Every disaster, inquest, challenge, comes down to me. I know I’m not unique in this aspect, there are plenty of people out here roughing it on their own. It’s bloody hard.

Have you had any awkward audience participation yet?

Hahaha hell yes I have. On my second night, I cast a drunk German couple as my parents and they didn’t really get the assignment. They were just shouting random stuff out. Oh, and one of my clown friends said some REALLY dark stuff into the microphone when I gave her a chance to talk. I handled it well but SHEESH.

It doesn’t compare to some earlier shows in the states though. When I did this show in San Diego, one time 5 people walked out, including the person cast as the groom. I was like— What!! What do I do now??? Which is actually so fun. That’s when I really get to flex my improv muscles.

Because of the nature of this show how important is your flexibility with you material?

Something Joanna likes to point out is that I know the show so well that it will happen no matter how people interact with me. I’m really good at juggling whatever people throw at me (uhm please don’t read that as a challenge lol). But yeah I would say PRESENCE is the key. I’m so present. The difference between my mediocre shows and my excellent shows is how present I am.

What does The Best Man Show say about Mark and the types of shows he wants to create?

I love to create things that make you feel like anything could happen at any moment— giving you just a little bit of fear but a whole lot of trust and excitement. I also love to make shows that mean something. This is a show about love. While it’s silly, and chaotic, and ridiculous, at the end of the day it’s got a very sincere message.

Do you have some superstitious before you head out on stage?

Ha, I have some things I repeat to myself. I say, “Honour the work, tell the story, have fun.” Then I dedicate the show to myself. Then I beat my chest a bunch and say “this is my house,” hahaha.

"As I’ve grown I’ve also learned that the only person whose approval I need is my own."