After last year’s commercial success IMPOSSIBLE returns to the Noël Coward Theatre, where a gang of illusionists and escapologists utilise their unquestionable skill to amaze and ultimately baffle their audience.All of the senses are stimulated, and minds left boggled. Magical Bones, whose original playground is South London, adds a twist to the highly televised world of street magic by offering it to us on the West-End stage - complete with hip-hop dancing. Ben Hart, undoubtedly the most captivating performer of the evening for me, combines impossible magic with impeccable stagecraft. His charismatic story-telling and performance almost make you forget that he just teleported an unsuspecting audience member from one side of the stage to another.
The show was met with wide criticism last year for its lack of female representation, and you can see the team have attempted to correct this. Josephine Lee amazes with her escape from a locked water-tank whilst handcuffed, and Sabine Van Diemen takes the bull by the horns by chopping a man in half instead of a woman. Despite this, I still raise the question; why do these talented women have to be in skin-tight cat suits and strut around like supermodels? The show also exhibited some pacing issues, but thankfully each act had a great ability to propel the show forward.
Having successfully located my inner child during performance; I must say IMPOSSIBLE definitely ignites your imagination. Those looking for a thrilling night out will love this Vegas style magic show with a modern dangerous edge.
Menier Chocolate Factory is currently home to Fiasco Theater’s Off-Broadway production of the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine musical, Into The Woods. This company of actor-musicians demonstrates story-telling and ensemble work at its finest. The 10 performers multi-role excellently, with a particularly amusing turn from bearded Andy Grotelueschen, transforming between Jack’s female cow Milky White with a baby’s milk bottle for an udder, to an Ugly Step-Sister with a floral curtain rail as a dress, as well as playing Rapunzel’s cock-sure prince on a hobby horse.