The Vaults Theatre, London – until 22 June 2019
Reviewed by Lisa Harlow
2**
The show is billed as a mind-reading show based on CIA’s psychic spying programme run in the Cold War and disbanded in 1995. A number of techniques from the programme are attempted with audience members throughout the evening.
David Narayan, the sole presenter and performer, peppers the show with details of participants of the Stargate programme and excerpts of the CIA declassified documents, parts of which are still redacted (on changes to human cells).
The information highlights that the show ‘is unusual in that the performer, David Narayan, does not demonstrate any psychic powers’. David Narayan is an amiable host and generally presents information with sincerity. But increasingly through the evening it feels more like a high brow magic show, and my desire to learn more about the findings of psychic phenomenon is left wanting.
The audience is rather muted throughout and some become rather hysterical after the interval as the different techniques are tried out with various success. Hints are given to what psychological cues might really be happening, yet they are never really followed up (“Note that I am going first, that will become important later”). This is a shame as the premise of learning about the findings and experiencing the practices is enticing yet there are sleights of hand occurring that leave us constantly scrutinising the illusions at play.
There are a number of successful results throughout the night but the failure to really have won over the audience impacted greatly on the general atmosphere of the evening, unfortunately hampered further with technological issues. The finale does win sincere investment in the outcome given its hazardous nature, with genuine gasps from the audience.
Overall, this show has good potential and a fascinating premise to draw people to the show, but its execution is somehow lacking. As a performance, more sparkle is needed, or if it is to veer more to really digging into the psychic programme, then far greater material woven into the show would be an improvement.