Perhaps there are bolshy mothers in every country, though Mario Adrion’s experiences in his formative years seem commensurate with stereotypical views of Germans – there was no soft love, only a relentless commitment from his mother to crack on with life regardless of its curveballs, and to always tell the truth, however hurtful it may be. The maxim ‘if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything’ did not apply. And so it was that Adrion’s mother told him, as a young boy, that she didn’t want to be a mother. It was a moment that stuck with him to the point that as a married man himself with an expectant wife, he found it necessary to recall the moment during his solo show listed in the comedy section of the Edinburgh Fringe brochure.
With crystal clear and moderately paced delivery, one couldn’t fail to understand everything. Yes, this was another younger person telling their stories of trauma, but there were many lighter moments too, not least in the inclusion of ‘cleanser’ punchlines in which he pokes fun at the Nazi regime. The irony was not lost on him that somebody somewhere booked him, a German comedian (he also acknowledges some might have difficulty believing such a thing even exists), into the ‘Attic’ space at Pleasance Courtyard (there are also three ‘bunkers’).
All set to follow a ‘traditional’ path of school, college, university and then into a specialist vocation, he instead found himself working as a fashion model, and with that, extensive international travel. In wanting to please his paymasters, there arose various dilemmas over time, regarding what was acceptable and appropriate. In hindsight, he realised thanks to the woman he married years later, that he was subjected to a crime against the person. It’s a curious choice to include such a recollection in a standup show, though there was palpable cathartic release. The pathos and emotional engagement were worth listening to.
Review by Chris Omaweng
A darkly funny show about a boy from a picturesque German town who leaves it all behind to become an international fashion model. Armed with a need for approval, Mario dives headfirst into the modelling world, navigating the chaos of pseudo professional relationships, the European runway, and sketchy modelling gigs. Along the way, Mario faces unhealthy power dynamics, constant rejection, and significant sexual abuse within the industry. The show explores themes of self-love, the need for acceptance, and grappling with sexual trauma from a male perspective. It’s a story about being hot — and sad.
MARIO ADRION: LIVE A LITTLE
Pleasance Courtyard at the Edinburgh Fringe
5 to 30 August 2026
