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ED2013 3/5 Reviews ED2013 Cabaret Reviews
Pick A Card, Any Card (No, Not That One!) (John Henry Blackwood / PBH’s Free Fringe)
By Joe Abel | Published on Wednesday 21 August 2013
A traditional sleight-of-hand card magician, John Henry Blackwood tells you he’s tricking you, fluffs it deliberately, then really tricks you. That’s the show. Everyone will be familiar with that tingle in the back of their brain that comes from being tricked, and Blackwood has an easy, relaxed patter that lulls the audience into this receptive state. Underselling his considerable skill with a warm, charming presence, his tricks are proficient and well-practiced. He provides a simple background on the origins of the card-deck in tarot, and at times touches on meta-commentary, linking these techniques to advertising, gambling or comedy. But for the majority of the show, it’s just deceptively simple-seeming, elegant card tricks, presented with smooth transitions, without any pretensions otherwise.
The Street, until 24 Aug, 2.45pm.
tw rating 3/5 | [Joe Abel]
