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The prince returns to a cavernous warehouse underneath central Edinburgh in The Return of The Glittering Prince of Magic – Starring Liam A Black. If magicians use a traditionally glitzy assistant, said assistant is usually dressed in eye-catching sparkly outfits. Here Black is both the magician and the sparklingly dressed assistant. With not just one or two but several glittery coats, he certainly lives up to the “Glittering” description in his title.

The parade of beautiful coats is a highlight of the show. Black is a clothes horse for sparkly fashion. The changes are not exactly incorporated into the act, this is not a quick-change show. Instead, every few routines Black steps offstage to re-dress himself in the next item of clothing. Whoever creates these outfits for him deserves applause, they are magnificent.

Unfortunately, the clothes being a highlight is not the best sign for a magic show. Black does in fact do magic in between changing his outfits. Magic fans will find his tricks familiar. One slightly more unusual highlight is a juggling trick involving unusual balls, which, in the light of the venue, sparkle almost as much as Black’s outfits. However, by and large the magic feels significantly less inspired than the clothes. There is no theme except the glitter, and with the exception of that one mentioned juggling routine, even the glitter is limited to Black’s clothes. Black is not the best magician at the Fringe, despite his intentionally deceptively trimmed pull quote from an earlier review. His performance does, however, showcase quite well why he may have felt the need to subterfuge so desperately.

Fashion fans may find The Return of the Glittering Prince of Magic worthwhile, but even fans on glitter may find themselves wanting more from Black. The magic sadly lacks the sparkle of the clothes. As a show to have onstage in the background while having a drink it could be worse, but it also could be better. Even Black himself seems disinterested in the magic he performs, leaving the audience struggling to care.