Type: Comedy Festival, Clowning, Mime
If you liked: Clowning, Audience Participation, B48y Crash Lands on Earth
Alakazam is a magic show. Well, not quite. It’s a show about magic. There is very little authentic magic tricks actually involved. Ben McCarthy has come across a magic hat and robe and is keen to show us what he’s got. Over an hour he shows us mundane/domestic magic such as manipulating the audience and lighting to the absolute delight of the audience.
Leaning into the gross and awkward, McCarthy’s character is shocking and embarrassing…in the most amazing way. With only a t-shirt, underwear and his dollar store costume to his name, he burps, licks and sweats to the audience’s groans and squeals. McCarthy doesn’t hold himself back, letting us get wrapped up in this clown’s misplaced confidence.
The mime, ever so often interrupted with a quick word, was rather well developed much to our horror. I don’t think I will ever be able to unsee the “magic” of childbirth that we were subjected to.
Audience participation was dotted throughout the show, quickly developing a playful relationship. We were addressed as a group and individually, even the back rows weren’t safe. Though we mostly weren’t required to do much when picked, the impossible-to-predict-chaos made us all slightly terrified of who was going to be the next victim. If you’re not up for being part of the hijinks or having a panting McCarthy in your face, I’d recommend not sitting in the front row!
I was sceptical of one moment of audience participation when someone was brought up to the stage and blindfolded. There’s an interesting handing over of power when blindfolded on stage, and though it may create unnecessary discomfort for myself when the participant can’t see what they’re consenting to, it’s something that could require further exploration to iron out.
Ridiculous, alarming, and somehow endearing, McCarthy brings us through an hour of hysterics, never letting us predict what was about to happen next. Summed up best by its own disclaimer:
This is not a real magic show involving magic tricks. There is however magic all around us, which means there’s magic in every show. So therefore yes, it is a magic show, they all are.
See our other reviews from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in the link below
Tickets and Practical Info for Alakazam! at MICF 🎟️
TICKETS: https://www.comedyfestival.com.au/browse-shows/alakazam/
SEASON: 6 – 19 April
PRICE: $15.70-$29.88
TIME: 7:10pm
VENUE: Motley Bauhaus – Theatrette, Carlton
DURATION: 60 mins
RATING: 15+: Audience Participation
