talkmagic.co.uk

http://tobaccofactorytheatre.com/shows/detail/peters_friends111

So, I went to see Peter's Friends last night. It was the 3rd one out of 4 and I really didn't know what to expect as all we were told was "The award-winning “secret star” of the contemporary magic scene, Peter Clifford, brings together the elite of magical talent for a series of mind-melting, jaw-dropping shows. Each evening Peter will present two acts to amaze you. Mentalism, gambling cons, street magic or bamboozling outright trickery – whatever you witness you will leave with a feeling of uplifted astonishment."

Well, I was confused from the start!
To begin the show a gentleman came out, didn't introduce himself and performed a card trick with 20 people picking cards. It all seemed very messy and although he mentioned it was to get the whole audience to be involved, we felt very left out. He seemed to know a lot of people in the audience already and was talking to them on a 1st name basis. He then revealed the cards 1 at a time, and after a little mistake he ended with all 20 correct cards. It turned out he was Peter Clifford, but we still hadn't been told?!

Next up was Richard Pinner, 'Close-up magician on the year 2008', and he was ok, but we were expecting " the elite of magical talent". He seemed to rush through his act, doing trick after trick, making all his tricks as good as the last, but in truth he had some crackers, he just didn't make enough of them and concentrated on making us laugh instead.

And the final act was from Noel Britten, he was hilarious! A great Tommy Cooper style of entertaining. He had the audience in stitches from the moment he walked on to the time he left, and he certainly didn't rush his 'magic', making the most out of it as he could. But as he only did 3 tricks, plus some balloon modelling(?!), I was still left confused as to where the "feeling of uplifted astonishment" was.

We left thinking it was more of a stand-up comedy show rather then a magic show with the best of the best magicians.

Is this normal for a magic show?
Or did I just completely miss the feeling of astonishment?!
Is the category of magic sometimes confused with comedy, because I can't imagine comedy being confused with magic?!

Just my 10 pence worth anyway...