☆☆☆☆

Anyone who goes to Sin City Circus Sisters expecting a standard Fringe magic show will be disappointed in the best possible way. While there are enough magical elements for it to feel like it technically qualifies as a magic show, there is also a significant emphasis on circus-style stunts. They still look impossible, but instead of achieving that effect using magic, they’re actually doing it. Stacey Stardust takes care of most of the magic while Lygia Way does most of the stunts, and they each assist each other to help make the show so incredibly impressive.

The finale lurks onstage like a Chekov’s box and it’s no surprise that it’s a highlight. This style of big illusion work is not often seen at the Fringe. When it is, the implied allusions to a more traditional era of magic can feel misogynistic, unless the magicians take extra care to frame it an a progressive way, or have a male cast member in the traditional “magician’s assistant” role. Seeing an effect like this performed by two women isn’t usually an option, given the demographic tendencies of working magicians, and seeing it here feels very wholesome.

Given the style of Sin City Circus Sisters, specific audience members are not often called on to participate in the show. The odd task might be assigned to an audience member, but it will be simple and quickly dealt with. Stardust and Way keep all the attention on themselves, and as there are two of them they can take on a lot of the tasks often given to the audience. Magic fans may have seen jugglers in other acts coerce a stranger to lie on the floor so the juggler can juggle knives over their poor victim’s body, but here Stardust puts her body on the line for Way to juggle over. The stunts may at times be dangerous, but Stardust and Way never place the audience in harm’s way.

The presentation and outfits of the circus sisters are noticeably sexier than Fringe magic acts tend to be. Based on audience reaction at the reviewed performance, the surface level sexiness works as intended, but it also feels exaggerated in a cheeky, ironic nod to the history of women’s roles in magic acts. Maybe this is the sexy exorcism of voyeurism in magic that the art form requires to move forward. Or maybe, it’s just sexiness positivity. Either way, definitely a positive aspect of the show.

Sin City Circus Sisters is, above all, a lot of fun. Way and Stardust joke that they go well with alcohol to encourage drinks purchases at their PBH venue, but the audience doesn’t need to drink to enjoy the amazing levels of skill on display over the course of the show. If they don’t return to Edinburgh, they’re worth a ticket to Vegas.