Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Edinburgh – until Saturday 16th April 2022
Reviewed by Ellen Searle
3***
For this latest riff on theatrical mishaps, Mischief pairs up with the renowned American magic duo Penn and Teller to bring audiences a carefully crafted spoof of the live magic show. It playfully and fondly mocks the tropes of traditional and contemporary magic, but – and here is the twist – uses actual magic tricks in so doing, where the joke is on, rather than by, the magicians.
At its centre is wannabe great magician Sophisticato (Sam Hill), putting on the ‘Disasters in Magic Charity Fundraiser’ in honour of his late father whose love he didn’t get quite enough of, and whose magician prowess he desperately tries to emulate. Starring in his fundraiser we have the third rate illusionist ‘the Mind Mangler’ (Rory Fairbairn), parodying the darkly dramatic staging effects used by such entertainers. Mickey (Daniel Anthony) is his incompetent and endearing pre arranged stooge. Next up, and a particular highlight in characterisation, is danger man ‘The Blade’ (Kiefer Moriarty), all black leather, bare chest and rock music, his uber masculinity comicallly dissolving as he cocks up his stunts. We have the young German gymnast and contortionist sisters Spitzmaus and Bar (Jocelyn Prah and Chloe Tannenbaum), and of course our very own Debbie McGee style magician’s assistant and arts patron in the shape of Eugenia (Valerie Cuiko). Key members of the cast are the pretend backstage crew, mucking up the autocue, mistiming automated prop movements, and being hit by stray flying knives and the like.
Since their first production at the Fringe back in 2008, Mischief have had a string of successes, including The Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and A Christmas Carole Goes Wrong. You get the drift. With a host of coveted awards, West End and Broadway runs, national tours and TV adaptations to their name, it is clear that Mischief are on to something with their meticulously planned and delivered slapstick take offs of performance genres. And indeed, here, as we have come to expect, all the performers play their roles highly professionally, with excellent comic timing, and with absolute expertise in the real magic tricks sitting within the magic appearing to go wrong. Unfortunately though Magic Goes Wrong lacks the vitality of Mischief’s earlier ventures. The humour is largely predictable and the jokes at times repetitive. That said, it has its moments and is highly watchable, and for lovers of magic shows, and dedicated fans of Mischief, it holds real charm and provide a very enjoyable night out.