'It was clear that this was no ordinary politician' - writer/performer Alex Robins on his show Meet Mayor Max

With 15 minutes to go, a group had gathered; a mix of devotees and curious visitors. Without fail, when I asked each member of the crowd why they were there, they all had the same reply: “To meet Mayor Max!”

I had seen thousands of photos of the Mayor greeting his constituents online. I had read every article and watched every TV appearance. I thought I knew what I was in for. But in person, it felt less like an attraction and more of a shared ritual.

I was part of something that the entire town had chosen to believe in together. There was a change in the air. Voices trailed off mid-sentence, heads turned and cameras raised. It was clear that this was no ordinary politician.

At this point I should mention that Mayor Max is a golden retriever.

Enjoying The Scotsman's coverage of the Edinburgh festivals? For just £2 a month you can get unlimited access to scotsman.com plus 2-for-1 Fringe tickets. For details visit www.scotsman.com/subscriptions

Six months earlier, I had come across a documentary on Vimeo called The Mayor. It was just another link on the timeline, a curiosity you forget the second you scroll, there to make you smile for a moment before you move on. I didn’t move on.

There was something about the way the townspeople talked about him. It wasn’t ironic or a gimmick, there was real sincerity and pride. Something about this dog was genuinely connecting with the community. I watched it again, then went on to read more on his website (www.mayormax.com).

I prepared some questions and braced myself for international charges before calling the Mayor’s Headquarters. The phone was immediately answered by Phyllis Mueller, Mayor Max’s human chief of staff (and owner). We spoke for hours and, at the end, I was invited to meet Mayor Max for myself.

Of course, I wasn’t really going to fly across the Atlantic to pet a dog. Surely?

On 22 September 2023, I arrived in Idyllwild for the first time. Meet Mayor Max is a documentary-theatre show which details how the titular canine became the leader of the town while also explaining why I felt I had no choice but to shake his paw in person.

When I met the Mayor outside Wooley’s Gift Shop, along with Phyllis and her husband Glenn, they were immediately warm and welcoming. There was a genuine friendliness in how they received each well-wisher, as if they already knew us - that we were already part of their community.

Over the next week, I volunteered for the Mayor’s Office. This assignment included assisting with daily town centre visits, a photoshoot and even a wedding appearance! At the time, Mayor Max’s entourage included his sister Meadow and his deputy sheriffs Mitzi and Mikey. The four Golden Retrievers were transported in two decorated trucks known as the Mayor-Mobiles.

I also had the chance to explore many of the town’s eclectic shops and landmarks. I talked jerky with Coyote Red, shopped funky at Peter’s bazaar and was given a tour of famous homes in the area by Rick. Almost every evening, I would meet with Phyllis, Glenn and their friends at a local restaurant to debrief and say goodnight to the dogs.

During our duties, Phyllis elaborated further on a topic we had discussed over the phone. Mayor Max’s Peace on Earth Team (POET), an initiative with the goal of promoting global harmony by encouraging people to use only positive energy behind any action they think, do and say. When I agreed to follow the philosophy, I was given the title of ‘Living Angel’.

At that moment I knew that, as part of the show, it would be integral to share these principles with the audience. I could do my part to spread the message of unconditional love, potentially changing lives in the process.

I conducted 17 hours of interviews across five days. I made a promise to everyone I recorded with that I would eventually return to Idyllwild to perform a play for them, a piece of theatre centred around their famous furry friend.

One year later, I fulfilled that promise. Mayor Max For President! was performed at Idyllwild Town Hall in October of 2024, just two weeks before that year’s American election.

In 2025, I was supported by Exeter Northcott Theatre’s Elevate Programme to develop the idea into a full length show and in 2026, Meet Mayor Max was chosen to be part of Pleasance Theatre’s Edinburgh National Partnership with support from Theatre Royal Plymouth.

This is my first time taking a show up to the Edinburgh Fringe. I hope that you will join me at the Pleasance Courtyard in celebrating Mayor Max, and perhaps, you might decide to become a Living Angel too.

Meet Mayor Max , Pleasance Courtyard, 12.30pm, until 31 August

The Scotsman’s arts newsletter is now sent twice a week - subscribe today

Enjoying the Arts & Culture journalism on scotsman.com? Make it easier to find by selecting us as a preferred Google source

Want the latest Scottish headlines sent directly to your phone? Sign up to our new WhatsApp channel here