Bespoke Magic - On the Fringe of Reality @ C Aquila

 

Bruce Glen, ‘the gentleman Magician’ cordially invites us into a world of make-believe with his show Bespoke Magic – On the Fringe of Reality.

He talks us through the world of wonder and amazement on our doorstep citing Edinburgh’s great fantasy writers like Robert Louis Stevenson and J K Rowling. It’s rare, but occasionally you experience a Fringe show that feels like it’s for tourists and this is one of them; the explanation about Edinburgh’s history wouldn’t feel out of place on a bus tour.

Smooth-talking Glen skilfully blurs the lines of fantasy and magic in his performance. From asking us how long a piece of string is and demonstrating that it in fact alters in length, to reciting poetry about a famous Edinburgh pilfering performer as he executes the classic cup and ball trick.

Dreamy dulcet tones envelope us throughout the show but once they’ve lulled us into his Fringe of Reality, they becomes a little irksome.
Glen’s final flourish involves borrowing three rings from the audience; consequently making them disappear and re-appear. His movements are grandiose and the overloud operatic love song that accompanies it is clichéd. This style feels dated and great magic speaks for itself, really only requiring friendly and mystical presentation.

That said, our performer is a gentleman and charmingly friendly towards his audience. As a result, he manages to keep them entertained - and mystified - throughout the show.