Mario the Maker Magician is a family show, where the kids tell the adults to behave.
Mario creates his own world during the hour, with huge props and exaggerated slapstick humour. The magician hails all the way from New York to bring his magic to the stage.
This show has tricks a plenty as Mario brings in his own individual spin with the introduction of robots, making for a special show. Mario is even able to make magic happen in a child’s hands, an impressive trick that I still don’t understand.
Mario is full of energy, even at 10:30 in the morning, his voice is loud enough to not need his microphone but not obnoxious. He has contagious energy that the children will catch on to. He talks at the right speed to keep the audience’s attention.
The magic is of course flawless but set up in a well-rehearsed routine. It is fantastically silly and imaginative. There is a lot of back and forth for the audience, including actions you must do on every trick and a pantomime-esque interaction where the trick has gone ‘wrong’.
Mario encourages the children to believe in themselves, asking what they want to do when they grow up or who they love the most. There is a moving section about teachers, where Mario talks about the impact his teachers had on him growing up. There is also discussion of role models and people who inspire him such as Andy Warhol, which all later play a part in his magic.
Mario the Maker Magician brings a jam-packed hour of fun to this year’s Fringe, where even the adults get pulled to the stage.
Mario the Maker Magician,10:30, Udderbelly at Underbelly, George Square until August 17
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/mario-the-maker-magician
