Obsession: A Life with Magic @ Zoo

After twenty-one consecutive years Ian Kendall is performing his final Fringe. Obsession: A Life with Magic is a love letter to his craft and a collection of his favourite sleights.   

As far as the magic goes, there's nothing new here. Nothing which will surprise, shock or awe. He will not pull flaming chainsaws from his backside. What he will do is perform classic routines. Perfectly. Watching our lofty magician flit effortlessly through his store of standard magical objects suggests there's little he's not mastered.

The narrative of the show is nostalgic and personal. We are taken on the journey through his early life, encountering the illusions he mastered along the way. Introducing the audience to various props of sentimental significance helps us connect with his story, understanding the obsession which has ultimately led him to over two decades at this festival. 

Magic aside, Ian is a joy to watch. This is partly due to his inherent charm but there's an excitement about what he does with playing cards, elastic bands and coins. The Fringe veteran carries himself with comfort and ease and frequently calls upon audience members, chatting happily whilst they provide assistance. As a result, Obsession feels like a intimate party. There's no attempt to dress up the tricks, our illusionist simply spends his last Fringe showing us how beautiful classic magic can be.