Could it be Magic? ★★★★ Wilton's Music Hall | February 1 - 5, 2022


There is definitely magic in this terrific little fringe offering. Built around the premise of a contest among four very different practitioners of the art, the balance of silly humour and clever tricks is just right. The audience enjoyed every minute of it, and Paul Aitchison brilliantly manages to create four distinct characters and to squeeze a lot of fun out of each of them. Our emcee and also one of the contestants is Reg Kettle – charming, befuddled and bordering on the inept. Zantos Thorne, "Brain Fondler of Wisconsin," is brash, full of American twang and seriously overconfident. Klause Fantastiche is charmingly affected. He has some very good lines, some clever tricks and a blonde mane that would be the envy of Siegfried and Roy. It would be a hard-heart indeed that couldn't feel sympathy for poor Colin of "Colin and Carol." Deserted by his wife and forced to face the public alone, he does his best to keep up appearances and not maim an audience member. The whole show is filled with some outrageous puns and not very subtle innuendos, and it is a terrific send-up of the world of magic while at the same time both astonishing and bemusing. For us, Paul Aitchison is the definite winner of this magic contest!

Rated: ★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Geraint Lewis.

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When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: 1 Graces Aly, London E1 8JB, UK

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