Mischief Theatre absolutely dominate the world of physical comedy with a whole host of “Goes Wrong” shows including, at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne this week, Magic Goes Wrong. A magnificent collaboration between the Theatre Company and legendary Las Vegas magic duo Penn & Teller, Magic Goes Wrong is a celebration of what many people, secretly, quite enjoy seeing – magic tricks turning into epic fails!
We find ourselves in the audience for The “Disasters of Magic Charity Fundraiser”, a fund to help those injured, or the families of those killed, in the pursuit of the ultimate magic trick. The host and compere for the event is Sophisticato, played to perfection by Sam Hill, a wannabe magician who is trying too hard to follow in the footsteps of his father, a somewhat famous magician of the 1970s.
He introduces, in turn, Bar und Spitzmaus (Chloe Tannenbaum and Jocelyn Prah) who are his German half-sisters – members of a secret family his, recently deceased, father created with his mistress, The Mind Mangler (David Nellist), a man who is to mind reading what Ann Widdecombe is to ballroom dancing and The Blade (Kiefer Moriarty), a man who knows neither fear nor pain… or so he says!
The set for the show is what you would expect from a television charity fundraiser, all glitz and glam – but held together with gaffer tape and dodgy wiring. Before long the lights that spell out Disasters of Magic Charity Fundraiser flicker on and off to reveal hidden messages and a multitude of props fly in and out at will.
Of course, as all good magicians know, the mystery of the magic is best left concealed but, without doubt, if you have seen a Mischief Theatre production before, you will know exactly what kind of mayhem to expect! Within the first few minutes The Blade’s naked bottom is on display, and that is only the first of many mishaps that leave the character battered, bruised and (literally) in pieces.
In amongst all the magic that goes wrong, there is some magic that goes very right. The problem with that is, when a trick goes right, the audience sits waiting for a “punchline” that never comes so, at those times, although the magic is superbly executed and very impressive, the audience reaction is both delayed and a little muted.
The two other characters in the piece are Eugenia Banks (Valerie Cutko), a magician’s assistant who may, or may not, be Sophisticato’s mother and Mickey (Daniel Anthony), a “plant” in the audience who is supposed to help The Mind Mangler, actually his flatmate, to look really good by continually volunteering to assist. Does it work?….. no, sorry, no spoilers.
Is this the funniest Mischief production? No, I don’t think it is. “Peter Pan” and “The Play” are, in my opinion, even funnier. Is it the cleverest, and does it take the Mischief repertoire and reputation to a whole new level? – Oh yes! There is real skill on display from start to finish here, with the magical influence of Penn & Teller shining through.
From the pre-show shenanigans, right the way through to the wonderful finale Magic Goes Wrong delivers on every level, and secures Mischief Theatre’s position on the top of the podium, wearing physical comedy’s gold medal.
***** Five Stars