Review – Maho Magic Bar

On entering the themed venue, one is met with the vibe of an insalubrious Japanese nightspot which, if the walls could talk, would blush at the stories they might tell.   A bar table number is assigned to each guest, placing you at one of five internal performance spaces.   Promptly handed two differing laminated cards, I felt rushed into making a decision and on what, I wasn’t too sure.  Even after an explanation from Maître d and magician, Johnny Balance, the first ten minutes left me uncomfortably squirming.  

In addition to Johnny and a confident cocktail tossing barman, there are four other magicians who rotate through the separate bar spaces after their brief acts.  Think speed dating for magicians.   Complimenting Johnny, the other talent hailing from Japan, are Kaori Kitazawa, Jonio, Sarito and Shohgo Yamashita, each touting a differing magical skill.  Ensuring the guests see each of the acts, it is distractingly noticeable that each are looking for time cues before wrapping up and moving on, all feeling somewhat rushed and ill prepared.  

The talent ranged from a cup shuffling hustler to jaw dropping tricksters.  The only female of the cast, Kitazawa, was the weakest link in the mix.  Her card-play reminding me of toys plucked from a magic showbag I possessed as a child.   I could almost hear her counting cards at one point.

Balance’s act was sleazy and overly sexualised, adding to the awkwardness of the night.  With children in the audience, asking a woman to unbutton her shirt then proceeding to reach past her decolletage with a pair of kitchen tongs to locate a prop was somewhat lowbrow.  In contrast, Jonio, with his “weird beard”, is slick, smooth and alone worth seeing this event.   His sleight of hand is second to none and has been praised by magic’s finest, Penn and Teller, for this.  Honestly, you will strain your eye muscles in a fruitless attempt to unravel his prowess. 

There are the makings of a great show, but dashes of refinement and class are required to make this a top notch, spell binding affair. 

***
By Jeff Lang - AAE Fringe Reviewer

Adelaide Fringe The Garden of Unearthly Delights

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