Will Close and Joe von Malachowski on ‘Mediocre White Male’

Following last year’s hugely successful run of Mediocre White Male at the Edinburgh Fringe and Shedinburgh 2021, writers Will Close and Joe von Malachowski are back with their updated version of the tragicomedy, now joined by Metal Rabbit Productions.

The show, coming to The Wardrobe Theatre on May 27-28, centres around a 30 year old living statue (played by Close), trapped working at a crumbling tourist attraction in the same old town in which past misdeeds, both personal and historical, haunt him at every turn.

As the programme notes affirm, the narrative covers some uncomfortable truths for its protagonist: “In between musings on shit jobs and filling dead time, Mediocre White Male slips in a searing portrait of male anger, fragility and vulnerability, touching on wider themes about being left behind in a small community, feeling abandoned as the world changes, and feeling confused in the face of a progressive agenda you don’t fully understand”.

Will Close in Mediocre White Male – photo: The Other Richard

Close and von Malachowski spoke to Bristol24/7 to shed some light on the inspiration behind the character, the intensity of their own relationships to him, and the audience responses to date:

What inspired you to write Mediocre White Male?

JVM: “We both grew up on the cusp of the countryside, in small-town, middle England. That’s where the play is set, and it explores a nostalgia for an imagined past that we can both relate to.

“That nostalgia is a powerful force, but it can also be a dangerous and dishonest one. That is a major theme we wanted to explore. We also wanted to look at a conflicted and morally ambiguous character, and take the audience on a real journey with him.

“Will’s background is in comedy, often playing very simple-but-loveable fools. There’s an element of that with this character, but there is a real darkness and tragedy to him as well. It’s a challenge to perform – I think that was also part of the appeal for Will.”

Will Close in Mediocre White Male – photo: The Other Richard

The show is coming back after a its smash-hit run at the Fringe in 2021. What’s changed about the remounted production?

JVM: “We’ve got new sound design by Dominic Brennan, and fantastic producers in Metal Rabbit Productions. But the show is, in essence, the same. Getting to Edinburgh in 2021 was amazing – we had been delayed by a year because of covid. Then in January, Omicron cancelled our London run. So we’re super excited to just be able to perform the piece again.”

Could you describe your personal relationship like to the central character, and how it has evolved since you began playing him?

WC: “It has been a challenge. The character is an intense one to spend time with everyday. I think that as an actor, it’s very important to have empathy with the character you are playing. But there is a toxicity to our protagonist that has challenged the limits of my empathy at times.

“That said, there are redeeming features too. As the co-writer and sole performer, I guess I know him better than anyone, but when there is an audience I still get surprised by people’s reactions. I’m still learning things about him, I suppose, which keeps things fresh and exciting. And that’s important.”

Will Close in Mediocre White Male – photo: The Other Richard

How have audiences to date, and particularly males, responded to the themes of the play?

JVM: “The audience response has been overwhelmingly positive, although the piece certainly elicits strong reactions. We have a lot of people come up to us with their own stories of encountering characters like our protagonist. I think the piece does stir memories of teenage years in a lot of people – both good and bad.

“Men are definitely more uncomfortable spending time with the character, which we’ve found really interesting. The piece is intentionally funny throughout – or at least we hope it is – but a lot of men start to worry if they’re allowed to laugh.

“We’re exploring delusion and prejudice with this character; it’s ok if that leads to some self reflection on the part of the male audience. Writing and performing the piece has led us to reflect, for sure!”

Without spoiling the plot, does the protagonist emerge as the hero or antihero of his own story? Is he redeemable?

JVM: I can’t answer that. I hope in the right circumstances most people are in some way redeemable. Whether he has redeemed himself by the end of the piece is the real question – and you’ll have to make your own mind up on that.”

Mediocre White Male (age recommendation 18+) is at The Wardrobe Theatre on May 27-28 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available at www.thewardrobetheatre.com.

Main photo: The Other Richard

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