Danish magician Martin Brock has brought two shows to this year’s Fringe. Believable is a show where he presents tricks and illusions that he’s currently workshopping, and Probably The Coolest, Most Funniest Magic Show in Town is Brock’s more elite show, where his tried and tested tricks are performed in their completed state.

It may have been the hot, uncomfortable conditions, a Wednesday night audience, or elements that were lost in translation, but whilst the show was well polished and slick, it didn’t quite live up to what the show name suggests.

Brock has a warm and charming personality that shines through Probably The Coolest, Most Funniest Magic Show in Town. He dresses casually which is perfectly suited to his laid back style of showmanship. This production is well rehearsed and slick, but his dialogue felt a little too rehearsed – Brock would pause where he expected applause or laughter, but it was often met with silence. This can be rather off-putting for a performer, and at times it did leave Brock a little flustered. 

There is no denying that Brock is a skilled magician. His routines are well executed and he puts his own spin on several tricks that I’ve seen before. As a self-confessed magic nut, it does take a lot to ‘trick’ me and Brock’s final trick, set to Frank Sinatra’s It Was A Very Good Year was very impressive — really worth seeing.

It is worth catching what remaining shows there are of Probably The Coolest, Most Funniest Magic Show in Town. It is a good magic offering at this year’s Fringe; just don’t go in with the expectation that the show matches the title.