Dave Reubens

DAVE REUBENS: MAGIC SURVIVAL GUIDE

☆

If the prospect of a magic survival guide doesn’t much interest you, don’t worry. Magician Dave Reubens doesn’t seem to be interested in it either. Reubens’ current Edinburgh Fringe offering is a chaotic mix of random tricks strung together, proclaimed to be a magic show but poorly accomplished and half (if that) heartedly presented.

The premise of this show is that life is hard, and it would be much easier if there was a magic survival guide (his tricks) to help one get through it. The connections between the tricks and this premise are tenuous at best, and completely nonnsensical at worst. Apparently literal highway robbery and the existence of space are problems we face reguarly in life? This reviewer doesn’t know, but truly doesn’t think Reubens does either.

Due to the lack of commitment to the bit as far as the theme goes, one can surmise that the tricks picked for this show were actually chosen on the basis on being the ones that Reubens is the best at. However, this is unfortunate if true, as he is not even very skillful at these. He presents a mix of standard magical tricks, integrating rope tricks, torn and restored newspaper, and a Rubix cube among then. Through several tricks there is some obvious flashing of items the audience is not supposed to be seeing, and his palming is overt. At one especially notable moment, Reubens gleefully exclaims about the emptyness of a prop…. only for a substantial amount of liquid to pour out in front of everybody and form a puddle on the stage.

Tech issues are generally forgiven by critics during the Fringe, due to the unorthodox venues and limited opportunities for enough on site rehearsal. That being said, Reubens’ tech issue at the show reviewed should have been an easy one to catch ahead of beginning, and even had he not, a professional magican should be better able to roll with issues instead of letting them start his show off on the wrong foot so blatantly. This mishap may be the cause of Reubens’ nervous energy, but we cannot reliably assert that this isn’t just his natural state.

In an effort to convince the audience that he is doing a better job than actuality, Reubens overexplains his tricks to make the seem more impressive, and cheers more loudly for himself than all his audience is doing combined. The desperation is offputting to say the least, with the crowd reception starting lukewam at best and getting colder every minute. At one point, Reubens receives literally zero participation interest for the easiest, least intimidating participation opportunity and has to resort to picking people instead after an extended awkward silence.

Every trick at Magical Survival Guide can be seen done more successfully and entertainingly by one of the dozens of other magicians at the Edinburgh Fringe, and it is our advice that readers take that oppportunity. Reubens does not seem like a bad or mean guy, and he clearly loves magic. His story of his inspiration is certainly touching, particularly for viewers who have experienced parental loss. However, his show requires some significant work in both planning and practice before we can reccommend.

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.