Clockwork Miracles @ Gilded Balloon

Ah Morgan and West. This Victorian illusionist duo gets tighter and tighter every year and their slick, stylised show is always a Fringe treat. A love of all things scientific, mathematic and paradoxical lies at the heart of Clockwork Miracles.There are three or four tricks which are simple, snappily-presented and playful and going by the raucous applause, they certainly hit the spot with the audience.

While the narrative of the act ticks like clockwork (oddly enough), there are delightfully unexpected interruptions. A new routine is underway and Mr Morgan unexpectedly encounters a mechanical error. Mr West looks on, a growing sense of concern causing the quiver of his sculpted moustache. He begins inspecting the broken magician and some illusions simply trickle out. Later, Mr Morgan is encouraging Mr West to don a clown nose and an ornate and silent-comedic style illusion ensues.These are beautifully executed magical moments which punctuate the performance and catch the audience off guard.

As with all magic, there are re-imaginings of the older tricks but here the accompanied whimsy keeps them fresh. Some routines drift into the mind-reading domain and these work well, though they lack the snap, crackle and pop of the more traditional illusions. As ever, these guys work splendidly together and Clockwork Miracles is the result of a meticulously planned and admirably creative magic show.