Writers: Derren Brown, Andy Nyman and Andrew O’Connor
Directors: Andrew O’Connor and Andy Nyman
This review cannot tell you anything about the show you are going to see, as Derren Brown very politely asks his audience at the end of Showman not to tell anyone a single thing they have seen that night. And if Derren Brown tells you to do or not do something, you obey. Let’s face it, it’s kind of what he is famous for…
So, speaking generally, the audience enter to a stage that could easily be reflecting a spooky stately home, or a Victorian psychiatric hospital, depending on your view of Brown’s magic-meets-mentalism acts. The entire back wall is a curved projection screen, and there’s already an instruction on it. And that’s where all specific descriptions end for this review, except to say two things: one – if you want a chance to join in, bring with you some sentimental token with a solid backstory, and two – if you’re recently bereaved then you might struggle with some bits of the show (something not signposted at any point, but possibly to be expected anyway with a mentalism act).
Part magic act, part history show, often veering towards comedic stand up, and finally part tribute, Showman is of course something that you genuinely have to see to believe. Brown does the standard pattern he has been following for decades now, selecting audience members at random to baffle and amaze up close, and in doing so convince them and the rest of the audience that he can seen into their past, their minds, and probably even their souls. Testimonies from selected audience members speak to how, in the moment, the magic is simply that: magical, unexplainable, and in nearly every instance absolutely correct. Brown makes believers out of sceptics. But how long does the magic last? Walking out of the theatre at the end is almost another show in itself as groups of people try to work out how he did it all. Brown famously claims never to use audience plants – and surely some would have come forward by now if he did – but he also tells you regularly not to be distracted, and not to believe everything you see and hear. In fact, the astute in the audience can probably pick up on Brown telling them exactly how the trick is done, if only they listen for the right moment and see through many layers of obfuscation.
Does that make the show any less fun? Absolutely not, because even those certain they have worked it out will never know for sure, and there’s always just one, tiny detail they won’t be able to explain. And whether you think it’s all plants, technology or simple attention hogs playing along – all of which it may be – or whether you believe Brown really can read minds and manipulate time, space and matter – all of which he might be able to – it’s impossible to deny that you’ve just watched a blooming good show by a master Showman.
Runs until Saturday 15th October 2022.
