Dave Reubens

DAVE REUBENS: THE MAGIC GAME

☆☆

Magic shows are often interactive, and Dave Reubens takes this a step further with his new venture The Magic Game. Part magic show, part game show, there are plenty of areas to get involved in the act. The concept is good, and Reubens manages the various moving pieces of a hybrid show largely with a practiced ease. While there is certainly room for finesse Reubens ensures that everyone involved has a great time.

The magic is a mixed bag, but at points in the show it’s incorporated in particularly fun ways. Reubens’ use of an advertisement break with magical demonstration of the goods on offer is reminiscent of one of the better and more magical MCU properties, with the concept made his own. At the reviewed show unfortunately this did not all go to plan due to some mislaid props, which Reubens hopefully found for future audiences. Some of the effects were treated more as magic-themed jokes, with a presentation that felt deliberately sloppy to allow for comedic flashing.

Advertising a magic game show takes care of one of the pitfalls of a standard magic show—the entire audience, by and large, arrived eager and happy to participate. The game show elements were especially popular, Reubens had no problem getting enthusiastic participants to join him onstage. The participants were treated well, and were allowed to consult their team even while they were the ones who had to deliver the final response, making it a low stress environment.

At the reviewed show there was a slight disconnect in the tone versus the way participants were invited up. Much of the humor, including the playfully flashed magic, felt geared toward the younger age range of children. However, the opportunities for participation seemed distinctly oriented toward older audiences; two children participated in the first game show segment, and after that Reubens specifically requested adults. Aligning the age appeal might help the show feel more cohesive and find the right fans.

Reubens has put together an awfully fun experience in The Magic Game. While it may be a bit confused as to which age range it is best suited for at the moment, it’s a solid concept led by a great host. Hopefully it will find its people.

DAVE REUBENS: FREAKY MAGIC

☆☆☆

Dave Reubens weaves a freaky tale this Fringe. His Freaky Magic is themed on an heirloom book of cult tales that he received from his ancestors, and the show is structured as a reconstruction of the magical experiments that it contains. Reubens has many skills and the show makes room for him to show off a range of them.

The exact tricks involved may not be especially novel to those who see a lot of magic shows, and if the performance by and large goes to plan there is the odd moment that the sleight involved feels a little more obvious than would be ideal. Specifically, an early moment involving an audience participant’s paper money sees Reubens fondling his contract for a bit longer than he could get away with. He doesn’t quite give away the magic at any point in the show, but it consistently feels like it could be slicker.

The inventive plot line that runs through the show makes it compelling. As has historically been the case with Reubens, he’s family friendly and best suited for slightly older children. The plot of Freaky Magic is gently frightening in a way that will hold kids’ attention and make the show extra memorable for them. Reubens makes an effort to involve the younger audience members in the act, at moments that are age appropriate and suited to the child’s temperament. A shy child on the younger side might be asked to keep an eye on a book from her seat, while a slightly older child might be asked to get involved onstage to commune with the dead.

As with all magic shows, the most unpredictable element is the audience, and the variety of reactions to the tricks can be memorable. It can be refreshing to see the responses of those with less experience—so much of magic is about surprise. A popular category of effect involves a step where an onstage audience participant reveals that a piece of paper has been magically torn. At the moment of this revelation at the reviewed show of Freaky Magic, a seated member of the audience could distinctly be heard to gasp, “someone ate it!” Reubens has many planned jokes and his humor lands with the audience, but sometimes an unfiltered exclamation of amazement just can’t be beat.

Freaky Magic may not yet be perfect, but it’s certainly a fun show, especially for fans of low stakes horror. Younger audience members in particular may be enthusiastic, and will be treated well by Reubens. With the majority of seats filled on a sunny Edinburgh afternoon, he is clearly deservedly successful this Fringe.

More information on Freaky Magic and its performance dates can be found here.