☆☆☆☆

Anyone at the Fringe who is even remotely a fan of magic or burlesque will almost certainly be very familiar with the iconic Voodoo Rooms ballroom. But none will have seen a show as perfectly suited to the space as 00:30 Cabaret O’Clock: Magic vs Burlesque, featuring real-life cabaret power couple, magician Arron Jones and burlesque dancer Fou Fou Kaboom. It may be presented as a showdown between magic and burlesque, or “tits versus tricks”, but there are no real losers in an audience that gets to watch these two fantastic performers work the stage for an entire hour.

Jones is a familiar face for magic fans, known for his wonderfully weird, creative takes on the very concept of how to perform a magic show. At Magic vs Burlesque he only has two chances to make an impression, but with a couple of crowd pleasers he does Team Tricks proud. His first trick is the highlight, a tried and tested favorite card trick that he often performs in variety lineups. He manages to get the whole audience involved and excited in a way that is rarely seen in a card trick. It’s the perfect example of the approach to magic that sets Jones apart, and is why he has found such a successful niche with his performance style.

Kaboom will similarly be a familiar face for many Fringe regulars, primarily due to her popularity on the many late-night cabaret variety shows that regularly run at the Voodoo Rooms. For the fans she has cultivated through this work, the most satisfying part of Magic vs Burlesque is seeing this incredible performer get the focused attention and literal spotlight that she’s always deserved. The second of her two performances in Magic vs Burlesque is a highlight, showcasing the expertise, creativity, and playful humor that Kaboom is known for. This publication might be contractually obligated to consider itself Team Tricks, but it’s worth mentioning that Kaboom’s second choreography isn’t just a highlight of the show, it’s a highlight of this year’s Fringe. For anyone with any level of interest in burlesque and/or dance, it makes the whole show feel instantly worthwhile—even if, somehow, it hadn’t already. 

Magic and burlesque each have their own particular approaches to audience participation, and both are at play in this show. Jones and Kaboom are both respectfully playful with their participants. The entire audience also gets involved in the competition between magic and burlesque. Jones and Kaboom split the audience between themselves at the start, and representatives from each side face off in a series of games, as well as coming together to participate as a whole. Both performers expertly select their champions, with priority given to the numerous excited volunteers.

Magic vs Burlesque is the perfect way to end a day at the Fringe. The real life love story between Jones and Kaboom makes this lightly combative event feel wholesome. It’s notable and adorably impressive that their chemistry is so evident in their limited, fairly structured time together onstage. Their physical and verbal affection has the confident understatement of a couple seemingly very secure in their relationship, which doesn’t just bode extremely well for their upcoming marriage, but also makes their shared stage feel like a safe space for a little loving rivalry. Whether audience members come in biased toward tits or toward tricks, they will leave with a new appreciation for both.