LATE NOTICE, BUT WE WERE SELECTED FOR THE ENCORE "AUDIENCE PICK" SLOT, 8:30PM, SUN, AUG. 12 BACK AT HUGE THEATER!!  I WILL BE PERFORMING "SELECTED READINGS FROM THE FRINGE HANDBOOK."

THANKS FOR COMING OUT EVERYONE!  WE HAVE ONE (MAYBE TWO) SHOWS LEFT IF WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET THE ENCORE SLOT @ 8:30PM SUNDAY, SEPT 12.

NOTE:  MARY WILL NOT BE PRESENT SAT. AUG. 11TH.  INSTEAD, THE TALENTED, NATIONALLY TOURING, COMIC, AMBER PRESTON WILL BE PERFORMING HER OWN HILARITIES (on a similar theme) 7PM @ HUGE.  Mary could not get out of her contract with the MN Land Title Contractors Association up by Brainerd that night.  She will be sharing the stage during that convention with an Elvis Impersonator accompanied by the sound of jet skis, and would love to tell you about it SUNDAY, 8:30PM IF WE GET AN ENCORE SHOW!  Fingers crossed.

Info for Saturday:          Amber Preston totally rocks, and you will never regret going to one of her fabtastic comedy performances. Her family is a little bit of a mess, but not as much of a mess as Mary's. Still it's just as entertaining. Recently named one of “5 Comedians to Watch” in New York Magazine her brassy charisma and keenly honed jokecraft leave audiences powerless not to fall head over heels. From raucous roadhouses to the classiest clubs Preston’s saucy, mischievous charm captivates diehard and casual comedy fans alike. 

Info on Mary-who's done performing unless we get asked to do Sunday:         Maybe you've seen or heard folk humorist Mary Mack on Marc Maron's WTF podcast, Comedy Central, NBC, The Bob & Tom Show, or locally on KFAN & KQ.  In her anti one-woman show, Mary recounts the true adventures of her forest-dwelling, bowling-addicted, anxiety-invoking mother Jan. A codependency riot. Fellow comic Amber Preston paints her own family portrait for the final show August 11th.  Amber's WTF podcast aired a couple months ago, and as her mother would say, "It's a real hoot."

Cast + crew

Mary Mack
Role: Folk Humorist/Musician
Please just come to this show. I'm going crazy trying to figure out the computer in order to compel you to go to the show. You are good people, so just go. I love you. If you wanna know more about me please see WWW.MARYMACKCOMEDY.COM. Please recycle.

Amber Preston
Role: Comic for Aug. 11 show
Amber Preston totally rocks, and you will never regret going to one of her fabtastic comedy performances. Her family is a little bit of a mess, but not as much of a mess as Mary's. Still it's just as entertaining. Recently named one of “5 Comedians to Watch” in New York Magazine her brassy charisma and keenly honed jokecraft leave audiences powerless not to fall head over heels. From raucous roadhouses to the classiest clubs Preston’s saucy, mischievous charm captivates diehard and casual comedy fans alike.

Suck it, bio's. I'm sick o' writing them. Sorry Amber.

Write a review

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User reviews

Amber Rocks!
by Peter Avirom
Rating 5 stars
I came on the one night when Amber was filling in for Mary Mack. Amber was delightful. I never though North Dakota and uncomfortable family tales could be so entertaining. Still want to see Mack some time but I hope Amber keeps performing at the fringe. Hilarious!

One of My Favorites
by Stacey Poirier
Rating 5 stars
Mary Mack’s show is absurd and charming. It's possible that I can relate a little too well with some of her "mother" stories, but I loved it – very funny.

Uneven
by Cato Brutus
Rating 3 stars
Mary's a funny lady, and her comedy has a black edge punctuated by her serial killer smile. If her show was just her standup, I'd be giving her a 4 or a 5 right know.

Unfortunately, her show takes a hard right turn at the halfway point and it runs out of steam before the end. There wasn't enough about her mother to make it more than another standup bit, and the show ends up on a whimper.

Steak!
by Rob Gelberg
Rating 4 stars
Mary Mack is a very funny woman, there's no doubting that. The jokes are very much hit and miss, but that's to be expected from any stand-up show. Her self-depricating hyper-Midwest persona becomes stale as the night progresses, but still retains charm throughout. Some of the best moments of the night came from audience interaction (i.e. upon hearing the basses sing during a call-and-respond song, Mary exclaimed, "I want a steak now!"), and there is no guarantee that the same moments can be recreated each night. What is a guarantee is that even if you don't have a laugh-out-loud experience, you'll certainly enjoy yourself.

Too-slow a pace for me
by Mariellen Jacobson
Rating 3 stars
She's charming, she's Midwestern, she has a sweet little voice and great big eyes and a dazzling smile and people love her. But I was a bit under-impressed with her comedy. She had some totally unique observations and turns-of-phrase, but the laughs-per-minute were just less than I was expecting, partially due to her slow-pace delivery style.

ha!
by Jill Bartyzal
Rating 5 stars
mary mack's timing is impeccable. i especially enjoyed the physical comedy after the punch line. i don't often laugh at comedy shows, but mary mack has always hit my funny bone. what a character actor.

MN nice in a Rudy Perpich sort of way
by Will Weisert
Rating 4 stars
I'd only hear bits and pieces of Mary Mack's work in radio interviews so was really excited to finally experience a whole set from her - definitely was not disappointed. The show was laugh-out-loud funny, start to finish.

No.
by Publius McGee
Rating 1 star
I sat in a seat where I could see the clock run down, and I shouldn't have done that, because this show taught me the true length of a minute.

I am also afraid of her teeth.

Refreshingly Midwestern
by Lisa Landreman
Rating 5 stars
Unlike many of the people around me, I had never heard of Mary Mack much less seen her perform. So I found her sweet and fresh and loved that she was true to her roots without being over the top exaggerated. I could related to so many of her stories, loved her improvisational and casual style and found her really funny. I will seek her out again.

Funny, but mostly sad
by Danielle Claseman
Rating 2 stars
Mary’s self deprecating humor made me more sad than it did make me laugh. The show was good, but not great. This is definitely a personal opinion regarding preferred comedy styles, don’t let it keep you from seeing it!

Quirky Fun
by Mark Mikula
Rating 4 stars
A distinct voice with a growing following, Mary Mack is charming and gifted. Her approach can be digressive, but there is plenty to enjoy as she wends her way though a range of topics about her family life and other observations, primarily rooted in her Midwestern experiences. She was so much better than the performance artist in the parking lot (inside joke, i.e., you have to be inside the theater during her show to get it).

Funny!
by Colin Ernst
Rating 5 stars
If you like Mary Mack's standup (and who doesn't?) then you'll love this show. It's billed as an "anti-one woman show" for some reason but it's really just Mary Mack doing standup. If you like Mitch Hedberg you'll probably like Mary Mack. Very funny show.

I heard that Mary is not doing the show on Saturday 8/11 so I can't speak for how the new person will do. I'm not even sure who it will be. She's well on her way to being called back for an Encore performance though so if you want to see Mary you may get a chance then.

Must see!
by Jenn Schaal
Rating 5 stars
Mary Mack is amazing to watch and the opportunity to be part of her audience should be enough to make you go see this show.

Thoughtful, creative, witty, hilarious. How can you not love her?!

Quirky Stand Up
by Mark Long
Rating 4 stars
We have a great wealth of comedians from this region, and Mary Mack is high on that list. She is funny, charming and quirky. She is a Midwest girl that hasn't been jaded by Los Angeles and life on the road. Fun, clever, relatable stuff.

Mary Mack is a gem
by Kate Urquhart
Rating 5 stars
Mary Mack is hilarious and sweet. This show is a must see. This review is done.

awesome!
by tristina schultz
Rating 5 stars
This show was awesome, go watch it and find out why....or read some 5 star reviews that are much more eloquent then mine! ( as seen below )

What a weirdo! (In a good way.)
by Nicole Wilder
Rating 4 stars
I saw this show on a total whim because it fit nicely into my schedule of other "by the lakes" shows for the evening. I'm so glad I did.

This woman is quick and funny. I have no idea what was scripted and what was off the cuff, which is only part of her allure. The crazy stuff that comes out of her mouth is EXTRA funny in that sweet little voice.

I wouldn't call it groundbreaking comedy, but if you're looking for something light and fun, check this out.

Miss Mary Mack Mack Mack
by Pat Mckay
Rating 5 stars
We cackled. We guffawed. We snorted. In summary, the people around us found us entirely obnoxious. The best part was when my boyfriend accidentally became part of the show (Mack asked him to show the audience his toes); the worst part was when my boyfriend spilled my wine all over my lap.

You should prolly go see this show.

Oh Mary Mack!
by Ashley Reese
Rating 4 stars
I'd never heard of Mary Mack before as I don't go to stand up shows often (or ever, I guess), but I'd see this absurd and adorable girl-woman again.

Mary Mack is adorable.
by Nancy Linden
Rating 4 stars
Folksy humor combined with just the right amount of cynicism. A few of the jokes fell a little flat, but overall this was an incredibly funny show. Mary Mack is a truly unique comic voice.

Hilarious
by Dan Linden
Rating 5 stars
Mary Mack's style of delivery makes it impossible to know how much of what I saw was actually the show she had intended to perform, but nobody in the audience seemed to mind, as it was still a fantastic hour of comedy performed by one of the most unique voices in stand-up.

So much fun!
by Andy Erikson
Rating 5 stars
One of the funniest fringe shows I've ever seen! There was such a magical energy in the audience. Everyone left smiling and it was a great time! She's one of the funniest and most talented performers in the world. You must see this show!

Mary Mack's Anti One-Woman Show: Sh*t Ma
by
Rating 5 stars
One of the funniest shows I have seen at the Fringe or anywhere in a very long time. What a great smile every time she says something funny. Good timing, funny stuff.

Hilarious
by Chris Shillock
Rating 4 stars
Sexy and nerdy, innocent and dark, Mary Mark keeps you laughing so much, you don't have time to figure it out.

Oh Fer Shure
by Joanna Holmes
Rating 4 stars
I love Mary Mack - she is a heckuva funny lady. Her insight on meat hoarding has been like a breath of fresh beef jerky.

Funny but don't watch her on Youtube
by Sarah Duncan
Rating 3 stars
I enjoyed seeing Mary Mack live, but much of the show I've seen on Youtube and some of the best lines lose their luster on a second hearing.

Charm plus U-turns
by Eric Simons
Rating 4 stars
The second time I've seen her perform and she didn't disappoint. Her voice and cadence give you the security of a down home, next door neighbor. Then come the hooks. You won't see a lot of'em coming, but they will bring the house down. Great set.

likeable, but not for an hour
by Vicki Joan Keck
Rating 3 stars
I am a fan of Mack and have always enjoyed her persona & humor, but I have seen her in shorter bursts. This show had no specific theme or plot line and 58 minutes of jokes & punchlines is too much. I like how she engages the audience, but she comes off as completely improve, like she has no idea what she will say next. Still, some good laughs and enjoyable.

Mary Mack is charming
by Clare Seaton
Rating 5 stars
Mary Mack's show was funny, smart, meandering, folksy and edgy all at the same time. It involved a singalong, (that's not a spoiler, right?) which was lovely.

Extremely funny!
by Troy Simpson
Rating 4 stars
Good, clean Midwestern fun. The sold-out house ate up the regional humor as only Minnesotans could, and I found myself easily relating to my own family experiences. A very clever performance enhanced by quick diversions into improv. Bravo!

Little Big Mack
by Eric Peter DeWolff
Rating 5 stars
This is a fun show. Mary Mack has a friendly mix of spontaneous material and colorful stories about the kind of people we all know. Her humorous observations about people from the Midwest to Southern California are all right on target. She knows how to entertain. If laughter is the best medicine, you should make an appointment to see "Doctor" Mary Mack.

A welcomed stand-up entry
by Florence Brammer
Rating 3 stars
I really like Mary Mack, and have enjoyed seeing her perform in the past. I settled into my seat tonight and was really looking forward to this, but . . . . I LOVE stand-up and I understand that "coloring outside the lines" and improvised reactions/tangents are an exciting part of it. But even stand-up needs some focus, structure and discipline. Her uber-charming stage charisma and persona can take Mack a long way, but eventually the paucity of the material sapped a lot of the fun out of this hour for me. A disappointment. I'm sure it will change night-by-night, though, so if you're a Mack fan, I would still recommend going.

Comedy, Hold the Humor
by Matt Peiken
Rating 1 star
Before her show begins, Mary Mack asks the audience to engage in a bit of forced, gratuitous laughter. And for the entirety of her show, that's the only laughter she earns.

To be fair, many in the semi-full audience laughed during her opening performance, but I'm not sure why. Mary's comedy is one-trick schtick—that of the stereotypical "don'tchaknow" Minnesotan. Her meandering stories are part of her charm—not the stories, but the meander. I'd pinned myself into the front row and starved for more than the couple crumbs of clever that fell our way.

Mary is a veteran standup comic in the Twin Cities and she has a devoted following—likely the same people who find "A Prairie Home Companion" the cutting edge of comedy.

I almost fell off my chair laughing
by Kris Sieg
Rating 5 stars
Wonderful timing. Great humor. Not mean, not crude, just really really funny. I was delighted and would even go again

A real gem.
by Eric Salo
Rating 5 stars
Very, very funny stuff. This is professional caliber standup and not to be missed. Belly laughs aplenty from the audience.

Funny Stuff
by Larry Ripp
Rating 3 stars
Character humor went out with Emo Philips in about 1989. But it is Mary Mack's stock in trade. She plays a "character" and although one might believe "that's how she really is!" I'm not buying it. It's a character and an acting job...with laughs. And there ARE laughs here. Read the other reviews. But there also was a certain lack of focus and a sense of "reaching" from Mary that I found off-putting. Also, for me the Minnesoootan thing just isn't that funny coming at me for anything more than a few minutes. She ends her show with a Kazoo. That about sums it up. You gotta love dat kazoo. Well, YOU do but I don't...

laugh yourself silly
by Rita Benak
Rating 5 stars
The room was hot, but people were laughing, deep belly laughs as Mary told stories about herself and we could see ourselves in her. Best thing I've done on a friday night for a long time!

Midwest Sedaris
by diedrich weiss
Rating 5 stars
I wasn't expecting such a poignant and personal show mixed in with her quirky midwest act. It completely worked for me.

"Yes, please."
by Sarah Byers
Rating 5 stars
Mary Mack most certainly did not forget her Minnesota nice; combined with dry wit and biting sarcasm, she allowed audience member's to "take a load off" and stay awhile.

Never forgetting her audience, she reminded us that so often the good stories are really the honest truth.

The show was well paced, involved and evolved and wickedly funny...A good deal, if you ask me.

Big Mack Attack!!
by Carl Franzen
Rating 5 stars
Come early fer shore. Stay til that damn kazoo comes out.

Good comedy
by Suzann Willhite
Rating 4 stars
Good show. Minnesota born humor.