☆☆☆

Getting an audience can be challenging during the Fringe. At the reviewed show of Welcome to My Reality, Adam B received the Weegie hug of death—he was lucky enough to be chosen as the first stop for a Glaswegian language exchange group’s day trip to the Fringe. The large international crowd made for an extra energetic show. Adam presented a series of mostly comedy magic, loosely themed on his mental health struggles. If at times it comes across as a bit of a therapy session, the magic keeps it engaging, and Adam does not dwell excessively on the negative.

At the reviewed show Adam had a plentiful crop of potential audience participants to pick from. The sheer size of the audience dictated convenient choices of individuals at the front and open edges of the rows of seats, and all selected were enthusiastic on stage. While this did not come up at the reviewed show, the audience gets the impression that as a self-described “neurospicy” individual Adam would be more respectful than most if he happened to select an audience member who did not want to join him. The one slightly awkward moment was when Adam tried to bond with a specific member of the audience over their mental health conditions; perhaps because she ended up being the only one to volunteer her fellow neurodivergence she seemed to feel a bit picked on in front of the large group.

The specifics of the tricks that Adam performs are not quite so unusual that a regular attendant of magic shows will see anything new, but they’re different enough that more causal magic fans certainly will, and Adam performs them well. A story narrated with the use of a string is a particular highlight with the members of the audience sitting near the reviewer. This was especially impressive as this was pretty far toward the back of the room, and he managed to make such a delicate piece of magic both visible and impressive from the stage.

Adam employs a variety of stories to compliment his magic, and if at times they feel disjointed this is in line with what he explains of his ADHD theme. The stories range from a fantasy involving skydiving bubbles, to the struggle of making connections with others while dealing with mental health issues, to more standard magician fare when performing with his colorful handkerchiefs—a wide range. The demonstrable creativity is a welcome addition that keeps even the most experienced magic show attendants interested in his performance.

Lunchtime show slots can feel like early morning meetings by Fringe standards, and Adam is a great way to start the day. He will undoubtedly continue to pack out the room even when the Glaswegians aren’t in town.