☆☆☆☆

In a city temporarily teeming with performers, Ava Beaux’s A Magician With Conflicting Personalities Tries To Keep Control Onstage (Popcorn Included) could not find a more apt audience. More than just a magic show, Beaux explores feelings on inadequacy and the relentless nagging of one’s own perfectionism in the field of performance. Her journey here is one not only familiar to magicians but anyone making a living off the ability to generate an audience, and to some degree anyone in general.

The show begins as one would expect from a magician- an oddly dressed performer presenting well-worn patter and quirky jokes around displays of magical effects. Beaux does not do anything particularly original in this department, sticking to time-honoured props like rope, newspaper, and metal rings, presumably to best set up the role of the Magician. We then are introduced to a vocal personification of Beaux’s internal thoughts, which spit negativity at her as she tries to keep up her act. Caught in a spell between the self critique and a desire to just perform what she loves, Beaux transitions through costume change to a mute but childishly delighted entertainer, and performs more effects in this persona.

Perhaps unintentionally, Beaux gives the impression that her mot confident and peaceful performing comes when mute, when not made to audibly interact with the audience. Actually, she may be among the rare magicians who can pull this off, as she has remarkable skills in physicality and graceful stage presence. Patter is a useful ingredient for magicians that contributes to distracting their audience away from trickery we are not meant to see, so experiencing a magician who can captivate a crowd with gestures alone is utterly impressive.

Beaux’s conflicting personalities compete throughout the show until the ultimate and heart warming climax. Her audiences cannot help but to be inspired and honoured by being permitted this glimpse into the mindset of the magician, although she does not, unfortunately, share her popcorn.