Philip Escoffey: Six More Impossible Things Before Dinner

Early in the show, Philip Escoffey asks for a show of hands to see who present believes in the paranormal. A thin spattering of enthusiasts respond. Were he to repeat the question at the end, there would be no new converts; indeed, even those formerly credulous may now be having doubts.

That’s exactly how Escoffey would have it. His modern conjuring routine bookended with sermons on how we’re manipulated by everyone from bankers to the makers of Yakult, the self-professed mind reader seems on a mission to warn human beings against “investing belief in things that are not there.” Tongue-in-cheek baiting of the 'sceptics' present belies Escoffey’s own conspicuously sceptical approach to magic, and he cheerfully admits that his abilities would get him nowhere with the intelligence services. Yet few laymen could expect to have a clue as to how many of these tricks are done.

The act itself sticks largely to traditional ground, with extensive use of playing cards – but it’s consistently, bafflingly impressive stuff, with each trick drawing gasps of appreciation. Escoffey broadens the show with asides on the history of his art (including the race to develop psychic capabilities between the Cold War powers) – a nice touch which ought to be developed further in future.

Escoffey is subject to manipulation himself: he’d happily fall, he tells us, for a girl who told him he had an intensely sexual presence. He doesn’t, of course – there’s no David Blaine-style mystique here. Judging by the response of tonight’s crowd, however, this delightfully sensible approach is just as satisfying.