Mark Vigeant: OUT THERE
★★★★★
Five Star Pick
★★★★★ Five Star Pick
I loved Mark’s previous Fringe outing The Best Man Show so much I saw it two years in a row, so I had high hopes for his latest expedition into the more rugged subject matter of outdoor adventuring. I’m glad to say I may have left the theatre a little soggy, but in no way disappointed.
Following Larry, a burnt-out office worker broadcasting his solo survival trek through the Alaskan backcountry in the hopes of viral fame, we watch the inevitable chaos unfold both onstage and via his livestream projected onto the back wall. Equipped with nothing but a camera, some fishing wire and an unfortunately whittled fire-starter, Larry's relentless positivity, shaky outdoor know-how and desperate desire to kill some big game can only lead to trouble (and food poisoning). There’s not much Bear Grylls on display here, but there are plenty of bear fails.
Watching Mark Vigeant unravel in real time is a particular kind of pleasure, and there is unravelling galore - it’s a hectic, messy and absolutely hilarious affair. With substantial amounts of audience participation and prop work, there is as much that can go wrong outside the script as inside it. If you like your comedy on the verge of a breakdown, this is one for you - just make sure you pick a big fern on the way in, you’ll thank me later.
★★★★★
