list.co.uk/festival Magic | FESTIVAL FEATURES
MAGIC MAN With magicians selling out shows and not a rabbit in sight, magic fanatic Rowena McIntosh reviews some of the most exciting mind readers and illusionists at this year’s Fringe
AT THE ILLUSIONIST’S TABLE Immersive performance that will leave you questioning your free will ●●●●●
The format of At the Illusionist’s Table stands out from the majority of Fringe shows. It’s two and a half hours rather than the standard 60 minutes, includes a three course meal and whisky, and has a grand venue – the Scotch Malt Whisky Society – all to itself. Here, we are not an anonymous audience watching the performance from the dark. Instead, 12 people are seated with illusionist Scott Silven around a lavish candlelit table.
Silven is a warm and welcoming host, who seems genuinely delighted to be in our company. He eases us into the evening with a number prediction routine before moving onto mind reading using playing cards. Acknowledging that this is done through vocal and facial clues, he steps it up a notch, planting images in our own heads. When Silven leaves the room between courses, the group marvels at the illusions and ponders their workings, and it feels like a collective experience. The addition of whisky tasting to proceedings initially feels a bit forced but Silven ties in the smoky aromas of the spirit with a visualisation. The combination of food, drink, l ickering candlelight and Silven’s dulcet tones gives this performance an immersive edge. A routine based on word association is brilliantly clever and his i nal l ourish will leave you asking if any of your choices were really the result of your own free will. ■ Scotch Malt Whisky Society, until 27 Aug (not 19, 21), 7pm, £69. >>
Scott Silven 17–28 Aug 2017 THE LIST FESTIVAL 19