Magic…going wrong? Clearly this is something that I, as The Magic Hatter, know very little about. Ahem. Ok, fine! It has happened, thankfully not too often, but hey…nobody’s perfect!
Magic Goes Wrong though relies on it all going wrong. Not just slightly but badly, catastrophically and sometimes downright dangerously wrong. And Mischief Comedy know how to do wrong…right!
Vegas duo Penn and Teller collaborated with the team, and their influence is clear. I grew up watching their television specials in the nineties, and the pair specialise in shock magic – and in exposing tired old tricks, then doing them again with a twist. This theme permeates Magic Goes Wrong; an illusion goes wrong and we see how it works, then – boom – the trick still works out, leaving the audience baffled!
The action is framed around a fundraiser for Disasters in Magic, with the acts putting on a benefit show for donations. All of the clichés of magic are here, from rabbits and doves to silk handkerchiefs and top hats. The show also takes inspiration from more modern magic too, with The Blade (Kiefer Moriarty) a spin on magicians like Criss Angel.
He risks life and limb (quite literally!) with some dangerous magic which – you guessed it – doesn’t always go to plan. His card stab (emphasis on the stab!) and water torture escape are both brilliantly done.
Sophisticated Comedy
The Great Sophisticato (Sam Hill) acts as compere, and honours his late father by performing some of his beloved routines. His dead dad was apparently crushed by magical props as his attic gave way under the strain…perhaps a wake-up call, as my own attic groans with all manner of magical apparatus!
His dove act is a real highlight, packed with productions that send feathers flying – and the subsequent clean-up is delightfully bird-brained!
Mind over Matter
The Mind Mangler (Rory Fairburn) brings mentalism to the table, with plenty of pseudo-mindreading packed with gags and silliness. Whether revealing names, colours and chosen cards or playing Russian Roulette with a broken bottle, this wannabe Derren Brown rarely gets it right but the audience are very much rooting for him to succeed.
In the second act he claims to contact a dead relative, however this routine falls a little flat and is the only dead time (pun-intended!) in an otherwise pacey performance.
German duo Bar and Spitzmaus (Chloe Tannenbaum and Jocelyn Prah) bring acrobatics, contortion, quick costume-changes and efficient German humour to the proceedings. Perhaps a nod to Siegfried and Roy, the pair add some extra variety and vaudevillian fun…watch out for that bear though!
Even as a magician myself, I’m not a big fan of card tricks, and I personally find a lot of them can be very dull and samey. However, the Goes Wrong team (along with Penn and Teller) have developed some truly quirky and unusual card reveals that make even the most mundane ‘pick a card’ trick exciting and unique. A roving cameraman and giant screen allow the performers to deliver close-up for a packed theatre audience.
Do two Wrongs make a right?
Overall, Magic Goes Wrong didn’t seem to flow quite as well as other Goes Wrong shows. I think this is largely down to the fact that the audience knows each illusion has to…well…go wrong. In The Play that Goes Wrong for example, the failings were more random and sporadic, and so there was a greater element of surprise. That being said, this was still a hilarious show – full of inventive ideas, some great magic and lots of laughs!
Is it family friendly? I’ve no doubt that much of the magic and silliness would amaze and amuse young audience members. However, there are some gory moments…with the end of the first act proving particularly grisly! No spoilers here, but let’s just say I don’t think younger audiences would have the ‘stomach’ for it. A bloody good presentation of a classic trick though!
With top-tier seats at £42.50 each this could seem like a quick way to make money disappear, with no magic wand required. However the show boasts high production values, large-scale illusions and a varied cast of characters. Magic Goes Wrong features all the razzle dazzle of a big magic show. Audiences can expect pyrotechnics, confetti cannons, a sumptuous set, fabulous costumes and a great lighting design. A magical night out!
Right, time to go and reinforce our attic…
MAGIC RATING
VALUE FOR MONEY
OVERALL
Magic Goes Wrong is playing at York Theatre Royal until Sunday May 1st, before continuing the UK tour.
Tickets range from £23 to £42.50 and can be booked at www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk/show/magic-goes-wrong
Photos by Pamela Raith
Disclaimer: Tickets were kindly provided for this performance, however all opinions are honest and are our own.
Review Wizard 