Fake Magic (NNF)
Norfolk & Norwich Festival hits gold, once more, with a magic show performed in the hundred-year-old Spiegeltent
Fake Magic is curated by Vincent Gamini who wittily comperes a selection of diverse magicians: from mime to a digital, interactive play sent via Chicago. Norfolk & Norwich Festival hits gold, once more, with a magic show performed in the hundred-year-old Spiegeltent pitched in Chapelfield Gardens. The venue immediately transports us back in time and lends itself perfectly to a night of illusion.
Magic shows have been making a comeback since their demise in the 90s. Most of us remember the vanishing ball and bendy stick tricks of childhood birthday parties and the shouts of giggling kids. Since then, we’ve become so used to the illusion of social media that we scroll, unmoved through endless unbelievable posts each day. Something happens when we walk into a live theatre where we have to surrender to our own eyes. There’s no filter or camera trick to hide behind. We have to simply disbelieve our own eyes in real time. That’s where the magic begins.
‘Sometimes, in magic you can find real magic’ explains one skilled artist who teaches simple, yet impressive tricks, to young people with mobility issues. The ability to simply outstretch an arm or unfurl a hand can transform a young person’s life and self-image. It’s easy to forget, but art matters. It motivates and inspires us when we lose all hope.
The mime artist’s astonishing attention to detail where we believe he’s really rolling that cigarette; the masked singer who gently lulls us into a state of surrender; the flamboyant, logic-defying finale that haunts with the sound of crunching glass. Each act is the antidote to distraction we strive for in everyday life. It’s impossible to feel anywhere else.
