☆☆☆☆

For most of the year it may be Edinburgh’s favorite fortnightly night out, but for the duration of the Fringe, Underground Magic, like many Edinburgh locals, is working extra hard. Every single night the Fringe crowd is welcomed to the Liquid Rooms for a night of magic (underground) featuring a regularly rotating lineup. The reviewed lineup was composed of Cameron Gibson, Max Fulham, Andy Boyd, and Elliot Bibby, hosted by one of the founders of Underground Magic, Luke Osey.

Osey is an able host, getting the audience excited and performing bits of magic in between the featured performers. The reviewed show was a treat for his longtime fans, featuring everything from a certain favorite prop that is reminiscent of his “assistant” in his solo show last year to a newer circus trick that few, if any, will have seen him perform before. It’s this newer trick that proves a highlight of the evening, as Osey got several members of the audience involved in helping him successfully complete it.

Osey’s first guest is his co-founder of Underground Magic, Edinburgh’s own Cameron Gibson. Gibson performed a crowd-pleasing favorite, his take on the cup and ball trick. It may be described as the oldest trick in magic, but in Gibson’s talented hands it still has the power to amaze and entertain modern audiences. Even those who have seen this performed by others would enjoy Gibson’s neo-classically clean interpretation.

The next in the line-up is Fulham, Underground Magic’s diversity hire. Underground Magic regularly includes non-magician variety acts as a little bonus for its audience. Fulham might be a ventriloquist, to this untrained eye probably the best ventriloquist in the world, but he still gets in on the magic fun, performing both a puppet act and a puppet-assisted magic trick.

Third in the lineup is Fringe favorite Boyd, who has the skills of just about an entire circus. Boyd demonstrated a fraction of the range of his skills, which are still plenty to keep the audience going. He had the dubious honor of performing the grossest trick of the evening, which truly has to be seen to be believed.

Underground Magic might be founded and run by Osey and Gibson, but they’re not just a double act, they’re two thirds of Edinburgh’s premier platonic power throuple Insane Magic. The audience at this reviewed show were lucky enough to also get to see the third member, Bibby, headline the evening. Bibby lived up to his reputation with a ridiculously exciting card trick reveal with a real emphasis on the “reveal”. 

The lineup of Underground Magic might change every night, but the reviewed show is evidence of the high caliber of talent that they are able to attract. For Fringe audiences, it’s a taster of the different magic and variety shows on offer. For Edinburgh locals, it’s also a reminder of how lucky we are to live in this city, with these two incredible magicians who take the time to curate a varied, exciting lineup of performers for us twice a month every single month. Either way, it’s the perfect inclusion to a Fringe night out.