Sam Harvey checks out the magic at Peggy's Skylight...
Taking place in the gorgeous venue that is Peggy’s Skylight, The Curious Cabaret saw a trio of talented magicians captivate the crowd with an evening of spellbinding wizardry!
Hosted by the enigmatic Chris Wilder- proclaimed magician, mathematical genius and ‘magical idiot’- who treated us to several mind-bending illusions involving cutlery, Rubik’s Cubes, crayons and much more. It’s clear he can turn just about anything into a magic trick and was constantly keeping the audience on our toes!
Chris was a tough act to follow, but thankfully the night’s special guests more than lived up to the task. To be a good stage magician you need more than just good tricks- you need stage presence, charisma and good rapport with the audience. Luckily the next two performers had that in spades (and clubs, and hearts and diamonds).
Luckily the next two performers had that in spades (and clubs, and hearts and diamonds)
Nikola Arkane perfectly blended sleight of hand with her unique and mystical performance style- captivating the crowd and bringing us into her world of Tarot Cards, disappearing flowers and silk handkerchiefs. Her take on a classic street magic trick clearly shows that she’s earned the title of Rising Star in the magic world- especially given the way she roped the other magicians into the trick!
Tom Stone brought plenty of wit and innovation to his act. It’s clear why so many consider him to be a teacher and master of the craft. He even managed to teach audience members to perform a trick or two (with varying levels of success). He may not have been able to fool Penn and Teller but he certainly fooled us with his magic box trick- if you’re called up on stage by Tom, you never know quite what you’ll be in for, and this made him a joy to watch!
It cannot be overstated how much the venue added to the experience. With its unique layout, surrounded by the scent of fine wine and with a generously sized cheeseboard in front of us, Peggy’s Skylight leant itself to the atmosphere beautifully! With magic acts taking place once a month, I would absolutely recommend a trip down if you can!
The Curious Cabaret played at Peggy's Skylight on 10 January 2024
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