☆☆☆☆

Arron Jones is back at it with the straitjacketed magic. With a lunchtime slot that puts it toward the beginning of the Fringe schedule, his 1 Hour Straitjacket Escape Magic Show is the most aggressively Fringe way to kick off the day. Jones does not take a full hour to escape from his straitjacket, instead performing the full hour of magic while trapped inside it. What follows is exceptional creativity, as Jones manages to perfectly execute a great variety of tricks with his hands literally tied behind his back.

The magic that Jones performs is largely recognizable to magic fans, which makes it even more interesting to see performed by a magician in a straitjacket. Card magic is of course a staple, and Jones manages to do a couple of tricks using these slippery little props. An early example features Jones nosing his way through the deck to find the chosen card, a visual that perfectly prepares the audience for the tone of the rest of the show. Jones’s brand of weirdness is self aware and the audience can see him consciously lean in to it, which makes even the extremes feel oddly relatable.

As Jones cannot use his hands for the duration of the show, audience participation is especially necessary. Creating the show feels like a collaborative, team building experience, with so much by necessity happening in the hands of the audience. Jones is the supportive team leader, guiding the hands of all who touch his props. At the reviewed show one participant slightly undercut his reveal by miscounting a deck of cards, an easy mistake to make with a set of props that has a habit of sticking together and moving erratically. Jones successfully pulled it back, with the participant’s help, making it clear that he had in fact gotten the trick correct.

Known as the Rockstar Magician in his other Fringe show, Jones’s love of music is evident in this show as well. He has a few bespoke tracks for various moments and tasks of the show that add a personalized flair to the proceedings. This straitjacket show is Jones’s nostalgic Fringe debut from a few years ago, and for those who caught that iteration, the “mix up the cups” song may have been stuck in their heads ever since. Jones dances along to each track, making every set up and reveal extra fun to watch.

1 Hour Straitjacket Magic Escape Show is one that every Fringe goer should see at least once. Jones’s style of showmanship is both unique and fun enough that it holds up well on a re-watch. It’s perfect for those who find themselves needing an early energy boost to get them through those mid-Fringe days.