John Archer
There is something quite old-fashioned, in a nice sort of way, about conjuring. It’s almost from another age, an age of music-hall and variety, of glitter and sequins, so it’s good to see the traditional illusionist is alive and well and that none of the magic has been lost.
By day a mild-mannered reporter on BBC Points West, by night Steve Knibbs metaphorically stuffs a rabbit into his top hat and becomes a passionate magician and enthusiastic presenter of An Evening of Deception. The Cheltenham based event has been going for a couple of years and has gone from strength to strength.
Last night’s performance, billed as One Night Stand, moved from its usual home, the intimate confines of the Everyman Studio, to the lovely little Playhouse Theatre and although some of the intimacy and immediacy was perhaps lost, I much preferred it – it was much more of “a show”.
After Steve’s warm-up tricks, first on was Rob James from Bristol, an elegant slight-of-hand artist who had the audience spellbound from his opening, blind-folded entrance. His act was a familiar blend of card tricks, legerdemain and prediction but they were all performed with style and an easy charm.
All magic shows are dependent on audience participation whether it be shouting out a number, recklessly lending a watch or a piece of jewellery or standing around on stage like a lemon. There was no shortage of volunteers last night, including seven or eight year-old Alex who was sitting on the front row and whose hand shot up every time a helper was sought. He finally got his chance at the end of Rob’s set, assisting with the evergreen cups and ball trick, and consequently came close to stealing the first half of the evening.
Top of the bill was John Archer, the first magician to win on the hit ITV series Penn and Teller – Fool Us. This was a performer on top of his game with a line in patter that would have enabled him to keep the audience entertained without ever resorting to a pack of cards. To me, he was a comedian who did tricks rather than the other way round. However, that is not to say his tricks weren’t brilliant, but it was his rapport with the audience and his volunteers, which incidentally sometimes came perilously close to humiliation, that was his real strength and appeal.
Most of his tricks were of the mind-reading sort, with the one of him predicting a street name in a foreign city that had been chosen at random by a member of the audience from a guide book being probably the most impressive. But he was funny, very funny indeed and, proud to uphold the tradition of variety, he finished with a song to a surprisingly nicely played ukulele.
There wasn’t any deception here at all – this was great entertainment from three special performers. More power to their elbows and whatever else they have up their sleeves. ★★★★☆ Michael Hasted 20/07/15
