☆☆☆

Tucked away in the basement of a pub, the Zoollusionist is an absolute delight of a show. The titular Zoollusionist is a real life zookeeper, Lizzie Durkin, a Fringe newcomer who is doing a great job with her debut show. Durkin lists several ways that the audience can tell her day job, but the most obvious is the way she speaks, with the classic cadences of a wildlife lecturer. It’s the perfect immersion into her zoo-themed performance.

The Zoollusionist is, naturally, themed on zoo animals. As suggested by the advertising, it’s an especially excellent show for penguin fans. A highlight is a trick that involves the audience members holding up photos of different penguins from Durkin’s zoo. Magic aside, the penguins are just too cute. The audience participants at the reviewed show, this reviewer included, had a great time comparing penguins and admiring each others’ photos. They are an adorable species that should be universally beloved, and a great choice to take center stage for so much of Durkin’s show.

Perhaps because of the day job, Durkin’s performance feels very child friendly. Youngsters who are old enough to enjoy a zoo will probably be old enough to enjoy this show. It’s perfect for adults who love zoos and/or animals as well. Durkin does not try to hide the problematic aspects of zoos, and provides information on how contemporary zoos rectify the problems of their pasts.

While Zoollusionist is a great debut, Durkin does exhibit a couple of the classic first-show issues. Performing an hour long show isn’t the easiest thing to step in to, even for someone with a public-facing day job. Some of the transitions feel either abrupt or drawn out with chat that feels only loosely scripted. She also on occasion stumbles over how to instruct her participants to engage with her tricks effectively. On the other hand, the magic all goes to plan and is perfectly themed on her chosen subject. Durkin mentions that at prior Fringes she attended a lot of other magic shows, and the research shows. The missteps are those that can only be rectified with the actual performance experience that she is now getting in.

For a fun, free to enter Fringe show with both magic and a light educational experience, The Zoollusionist is a great option. Hopefully Durkin has enough fun to come back as a performer, she’s a natural on stage and already skilled with both her magic and show construction. The young and young at heart cannot fail to have a good time at The Zoollusionist.