☆☆☆

Edinburgh regular Tim Licata can most often be found at his weekly engagement at The Joker and the Thief on Leith Walk. However, for the duration of the Fringe he is also more centrally located to put on a proper magic show, Absolutely Magic! right on Picardy Place. This is a fun range of magic and mentalism effects, from a fun and upbeat magician.

The magic may be recognizable but Licata’s performance of it is excellent. Even a fairly basic and well known effect like a rope trick is extra fun to watch in his hands. Licata excels and telling little stories as he performs, creating a narrative to enhance the physical magic that the audience watches him create. There’s a drama to the physicality of his performance as well—the rope trick may be a classic but rarely does a magician grapple with such a long length for the sake of this effect, Licata’s rope choreography elevates the trick.

At the reviewed show on a sunny midweek early evening, Licata still managed to pull in a large audience. A beloved local, his fanbase is evidently out in force to support and enjoy his Fringe run. It was a great ratio of audience for it to feel like Licata got a decent proportion involved while still allowing for shyer audience members to hide in the middles of the rows and backs of the audience if they so desired. That being said, participation was unintimidating and easy to undertake. One particular audience member was visibly keen to help out, and Licata made sure to let her have her desired moment in the spotlight.

Whereas Licata’s previous show leaned more heavily into storytelling, with magic designed to illustrate his story, this year’s is more formless. The theme is Licata performing great magic and creating a fun experience for his audience. It’s a great chance to see him perform longer-form pieces that might not suit the table magic that his fans are used to seeing him perform.

With a comfy venue and great energy, Absolutely Magic! is absolutely worth a visit. Licata consistently makes his audience laugh and gasp in almost equal measure. It’s impossible not to have a good time when Licata is performing.

☆☆☆☆

Anyone in Edinburgh who commutes up and down Leith Walk will be familiar with the name Tim Licata, resident magician at the Joker and the Thief pub. And after watching his Fringe show Close-Up and Personal, they may be tempted to stop by the pub specifically to watch his magic. In Close-Up and Personal Licata reveals his family lore through magic, acting, and occasionally even dance.

The dancing is both a surprise and an unexpected highlight. Licata recounts the start of his love of magic by performing a ‘70s themed routine, complete with props commonly available in beginners magic sets and his delightful dancing. Those in the audience who were not alive in the ‘70s may suddenly find themselves wishing they could travel through time just to see whatever it was that inspired Licata to create such a performance. Although after Licata, it will surely fail to live up to expectations.

Each one of Licata’s magic routines is perfectly themed and placed in the story that he tells about his life and his family. The card tricks in particular are exceptionally fun to watch, whether themed on the more standard topic of a family member’s skill at poker, or the ridiculously entertaining presentation of a card trick to illustrate a story about a serial killer. Many magicians joke that for those who aren’t particularly fans of card magic card tricks can be boring to watch, but that will not cross the mind of anyone in Licata’s audience. The card tricks may not have necessarily gone to plan at the reviewed show, although Licata integrates the perceived missteps so readily that it’s difficult to tell if they were genuine errors or dramatic flourishes to underscore the points of his stories—a true sign of a great magician.

The participation in Close-Up and Personal is  mostly volunteer with a bit of random selection. The more involved participation is done by the volunteers, or those selected by a random choice game with easy moments to opt out for those who prefer it. Licata is kind to his participants, even pouring a couple of them drinks. In a close up venue and with Licata’s friendly presence, participation in his show feels more like joining in a fun game than being put on the spot in front of strangers.

Close-Up and Personal is one of the cozier magic Fringe shows, and not just because of the close up venue. Licata may at times bring up murder and organized crime, but the energy of the show is too soft and fun for any of these themes to feel threatening. It’s the Fringe equivalent of curling up with a mug of hot chocolate and a mystery novel, the perfect nightcap of a show before bed.

More information on Close-Up and Personal and its performance dates can be found here.