Since my visit to The Greatest Magic Show, I’ve tried hard to remember when the last time I went to a magic show would’ve been. Probably not since I was about the same size as the tiny audience members to my left and right, all excitedly clapping and shouting along to today’s impressive performance.
Sam, Justin, and Max make up the team putting on this allegedly ‘greatest’ magic show. Is the title accurate? I’m not quite enough of a magical connoisseur to judge, but it was certainly a very fine one.
We were off to a good start merely by the setting of the show in the Palais du Variété in George Square Gardens, which had mirrored interior walls which beautifully reflected back to us the tricks as they happened.
Our main magicians Sam and Justin are a solid comedy double act: cartoonish, charismatic, as well as colour co-ordinated Aussies who know exactly how to play to their young crowd. You always got the sense that the children watching are at the heart of the performance, and volunteer audience members are involved in the execution of most of the tricks. In their non-execution as well, as the show has a sense of The Play That Goes Wrong in its schtick.
Energetic and silly in presentation, the performance is a mix of gags and real magic tricks mixed together by our two magicians as well as the blustering costumed Ringmaster, Magnus. The families watching are left with a smile on their face and the kids with stars in their eyes.
The Greatest Magic Show, 13.10, Palais du Variété in George Square Gardens, until August 25.
