the grumpy magicians

THE GRUMPY MAGICIANS PRESENT: WHAT’S THE CATCH?

☆☆☆

At the Fringe choosing a show can feel like having to choose between optimism that seems unrealistic in the context of current events, or a wallowing pessimism that makes the real world seem even darker than it needs to. The Grumpy Magicians are a great option off antidote to that dichotomy, with a performative low-level approachable grumpiness, not for any grand reason but simply for the sake of grumpiness itself. What’s the Catch? brings their trademark grump back for another year of magical entertainment.

Fringe regulars, The Grumpy Magicians have evidently earned a following, and pulled in a sizable audience at the reviewed weekday afternoon show. They manage to get a decent proportion of the audience involved in the show. Between their curmudgeonly yet personable stage presence and the sheer volume of participation, taking part is a very laid-back experience. As this is a family friendly show and they did have a few enthusiastic children in at the reviewed show, it might have been nice if they had some child-friendly participation moments, but they were kindly in letting the kids know that they were too small to get onstage. However, they did a great job of picking the kids’ responsible adults, and several of the younger audience members got to see magical mementos up close after their adult participated in a trick.

The magic performed may lean heavily toward the classics, but there are some fun themed moments and a few that take great advantage of having two magicians onstage. Magic fans may particularly appreciate the sassy commentary of newer magic that is popular amongst the younger magicians at the Fringe. While there may be the odd moment where the sleight of hand feels slightly less slick than Fringe audiences might expect, the issues are minimal relative to the enjoyment of watching the performance. They perform several card tricks, and often use larger cards for easy visibility from all corners of the room.

The Grumpy Magicians Present: What’s the Catch? feels like a real labor of love from two performers who, despite the grumpiness, seem to enjoy their jobs more than any other performers at the Fringe. They are a refreshingly unusual act by Fringe magic standards. Their magic may not be the most mind-blowing available this month, but they are always a pleasure to watch.

THE GRUMPY MAGICIANS: NEVER GIVE A SUCKER AN EVEN BREAK

☆☆☆

Two charming gentlemen, Paul Novak and Johnny B Good, perform a delightful show as The Grumpy Magicians for the first week of the Fringe. In Never Give a Sucker an Even Break, The Grumpy Magicians are upfront about their goal, to con their audience, who, they determine early on, are all suckers. They do, at the very least, successfully steal a place in their audience members’ hearts.

The Grumpy Magicians rely on classic magic tricks to fool the audience. They even produce a rabbit in a hat—luckily a toy rabbit, to avoid any implications of animal abuse. A highlight includes a blender, a less common prop at magic shows. Some of their tricks do lack deftness, and there are moments when the audience sees a prop before they should, or the face of a card a little bit too early. However, the majority of the tricks are done with suitable skill to conceal the deception.

To be fair, any inconsistencies in The Grumpy Magicians’ magic hardly matters, as their appeal is in their charm and rapport, both with each other and with their audience. Despite the grumpiness, they have a solid partnership. They work smoothly together and appear dependably supportive of each other. This is especially nice to see in a magic show, as magicians often perform solo and can look very lonely up on stage by themselves.

Audience participants likewise feel safe in the hands of The Grumpy Magicians. The Magicians take advantage of their age to take a grandfatherly attitude toward their participants, which they manage to do without straying into being too patronizing.

While The Grumpy Magicians might not be the most expert magicians at the Fringe, their act is lovely. They adapt well to performing appropriately for any children in the audience, making them a great family option. The Grumpy Magicians make for a solidly entertaining hour as both magicians and entertainers in general.

 

More information on The Grumpy Magicians and their performance dates can be found here