Lamesha Ruddock
This unruly and delightfully unpredictable solo comedy experience from Mark Vigeant, The Best Man Show, had me screaming and hollering with laughter. You find yourself at Paul’s brother’s second wedding, his last marriage didn’t end, they’re just adding a third, and Paul’s been asked to do the best man speech again because, well, it went so well the first time. What unfolds is, without a doubt, one of the funniest shows I caught at the Fringe.
At its heart, Mark Vigeant: The Best Man Show is a wild ride through the messy nature of love. Paul’s tangled relationships with his wife, his parents, his brother, and his in-laws bubble over in a volatile mix of resentment and longing. It masterfully explores how we seek attention and space when we feel unheard, delivering a rich commentary on loneliness and the transformative power of unconditional love and forgiveness.
From the moment you step into the space, the scene is set with thoughtful simplicity: a gaggle of hats stage left, gift bags stage right, and a strikingly high black chair centre stage. Paul, played by Mark Vigeant, enters stage right, a spotlight softly illuminating him holding his phone and the ever-present Stella can, reminiscent of Julian from Trailer Park Boys. The wedding party springs to life as Mark crowns front-row audience members with eccentric hats: a sequined top hat for his baby brother Charles, a baseball cap for Uncle Jeffrey. This playful ritual immediately breaks the fourth wall, drawing the audience into the story and into direct dialogue with Mark.
Every performance feels uniquely alive thanks to brilliant audience interaction, bringing sharp British humour that’s sometimes cheeky and juvenile but always on point. As Paul, Mark is a clown, commanding the space and his audience with effortless charm. His erratic humour, sometimes crude and sometimes tender, keeps the audience on edge, laughing even as they wince when the roasting gets too harsh. Yet his savvy sense of comedic timing means he’s always one step ahead, jiving with the crowd and knowing exactly when to push further. He’s only just getting started.
This trust between performer and audience creates moments of true magic. One of the most memorable is the transformation of a shy audience member into Paul’s daughter: from hesitant to full-on cat onesie, it’s a perfect blend of vulnerability and joyful silliness. The omnipresent Stella can acts as a visual and emotional thread. Mark gets progressively drunker, spilling beer and painting the stage, adding to the sense of controlled chaos. From cheeky antics like nicking money from the wedding card, blasting his brother’s micro penis, to wild interpretive dance, Paul grows into a somewhat unlikeable yet wholly captivating character.
His shift into Charles is a stunning transformation, a gentle, grounding moment that invites the audience to take a collective breath and trust him to lead us through the emotional release of the pandemonium we have witnessed. This emotional core is deepened by a touching ritual: collecting audience notes on what love means to them before the show begins. Hearing these thoughts unravel through Charles’ voice is profoundly sentimental and a perfect counterbalance to the raucous comedy.
Mark Vigeant: The Best Man Show dares you to be present with a laughter-fuelled honesty. You leave feeling like you have witnessed something rare, an invitation to do anything within reason, because at least you’re not that guy.
Unpredictable. Hilarious. Heartfelt.
You can catch Mark Vigeant: The Best Man Show until Sunday 24th at The Crate at Assembly George Square from 22:20 (60mins). Tickets are available through the EdFringe Online Box Office.
Jasmine Silk
Phoebe Bakker
