Sometimes in life, what you really need is a little magic. If you can combine that with some good comedy and good company, then you’re pretty much guaranteed a good time. ‘The Purple Rabbit Rides Again’ is a perfect example of this, setting itself apart as a Fringe show well-worth adding to your ‘to see’ list. Produced by the incredible team of Strut & Fret, ‘The Purple Rabbit Rides Again’ is a new take on their popular 2022 show. Fans of the previous iteration, as well as the company itself, will not be disappointed, with great performers delivering all the fun they’ve come to expect from this group. The show brings together five talented individuals who each have their own unique approach to ‘magic’. This makes for some excellent built-in variety, meaning audiences get to experience classics including card tricks and various sleight of hand feats, along with some novel twists including cheeky burlesque interludes, foot juggling (it’s exactly what it sounds like) and readings from a certified sex-psychic (also exactly what it sounds like). As with any show that incorporates a range of different acts, however, the success of the performance as a whole depends partly on how seamlessly these elements flow together. This is the one area where ‘The Purple Rabbit Rides Again’ may have benefitted from some tweaks. While each act was entertaining in its own right, the energy shifts between the more interactive performances and those which were more physical (and thus more detached by default) sometimes felt a bit awkward. When going from the raunchy fast-paced delivery of some of the magicians to something more visual like the burlesque interludes, the audience often didn’t seem to have enough time to fully settle back into awe and admiration as opposed to laughter and free-flowing conversation. In both cases, the acts themselves were great, but the order tended to take you ‘out of the moment’. This minor criticism aside, ‘The Purple Rabbit Rides Again’ is nonetheless a great time. Thoroughly entertaining, properly funny and genuinely impressive, there’s plenty to love. **** 1/2 – 4.5 stars. Tickets provided free of charge for media review purposes.