Eve Miller
Steven has just landed the biggest gig of his copywriting career: market the apocalypse. And so ensues an hour of ridiculous, quirky, and intellectual comedy that packs a heavy punch of pathos.
We follow Steven as he brainstorms his potential pitch with AI companion Wilson (and yes, we do get the Castaway impression!), reflecting on campaigns of days gone by, his childhood, and the sorry state of the world. We watch as he grapples with the seemingly impossible task of making the end of the world appealing, and how he finally comes to the perfect campaign. Of course, the impending doom of climate catastrophe is a major theme of this work, but it really is funny, I promise!
This production is deliciously anti-capitalist, satirising the corporate marketing world with precision and mischief. Philips-Horst pulls together the ills of fast fashion, the “wellness” space, the climate crisis, and the ridiculousness of our cultural consumerism, completely convincing us of his worldview. Well, he is in marketing after all.
Despite the intelligence of the commentary, some of my favourite moments are when Phillips-Horst is just being silly. He is the kind of performer that visibly enjoys himself onstage, heightening the comedy with every stifled smile. Dripping with charisma and utterly unafraid to be daftt; he is larger than life and twice as interesting. My highlights were the flashbacks to his childhood, which revealed that young Steven both had a transatlantic and Chicago accent, depending which parent he was talking to.
Overall, this was a glorious way to round out my Fringe, and I’m only sorry that I couldn’t recommend it sooner. I hope Phillips-Horst returns with more witty, giddy, hopeless/ful comedy next year – and if he does, go!
Greenwashing, exceptional observational comedy, and the absurdity of trying to build a life and career in a world that we know won’t exist for much longer collide in this exceptional hour of comedy.
Recommended Drink: Tequila shots (with lime and salt) – great fun in the moment with a heavy dose of existential dread the next morning.
Performances of The Last Mad Man have now concluded for EdFringe 2026.
Oli Fuller
