If you're craving an evening of uproarious laughter and mind-bending antics, then buckle up for a wild ride with Mischief Theatre's latest offering, Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle. Directed by the ever-capable Hannah Sharkey and with the sleight-of-hand mastery of Magic Consultant Ben Hart, this two-hour extravaganza is a rollercoaster of hilarity and illusion that will leave you gasping for breath and scratching your head in wonder.
At the helm of this comedic masterpiece are the dynamic duo of Henry Lewis and Jonathan Sayer, who breathe life into the hapless Mind Mangler and his faithful sidekick, the Stooge. Lewis, takes on the role as the chronically bad mind reader and infuses the character with just the right blend of pathos and pomposity, while Sayer's impeccable comedic timing keeps the audience in stitches from start to finish.
The premise of Mind Mangler is delightfully absurd and cheeky, with Lewis and Sayer weaving a tale of misfortune and mayhem as they take centre stage at the Apollo Theatre. From a messy divorce to a potential Vegas show gone wrong, the Mind Mangler's journey is as hilariously tragic as it is wildly entertaining.
But what sets Mind Mangler apart is its ingenious blend of parody and prestidigitation. Lewis, Sayer, and Henry Shields, the award-winning trio behind the script, take familiar tropes of mind reading and turn them on their head, all while pulling off some genuinely impressive feats of mentalism. And true to Mischief Theatre form, the show is rife with miscues, gags, and slapstick humour that will have you doubled over with laughter.
Audience interaction is key to the Mind Mangler's act, with unsuspecting spectators pulled into the fray as the bumbling magician attempts to decipher their innermost secrets. And with Sayer's uproarious antics serving as the perfect foil to Lewis' deadpan delivery, the chemistry between the two actors alongside their banter, crowd work, and improvisation is nothing short of comedic gold. But amidst the chaos and confusion, Mind Mangler never loses sight of its primary goal: to entertain.
From the clever use of multimedia (Gillian Tan) to the sound design (Helen Skiera) to the recurring interjections by Sayer, each element of the show is carefully calibrated to elicit maximum laughs from the audience. Without giving too much away, you can anticipate mind reading segments, illusions, and audience participation, all infused with a signature Mischief twist. And while the illusions are impressive in parts, it's Lewis' infectious enthusiasm for comedy that ultimately steals the show. In the end, Mind Mangler is less about wowing us with feats of magic and more about reminding us of the sheer joy of laughter.
So if you're in the mood for a night of side-splitting entertainment, look no further than Mind
Mangler. With its perfect dose of wit, outright silliness and ‘magic gone wrong’, this is one theatrical experience you won't want to miss. Guaranteed to leave you grinning from ear to ear, it's a sure-fire hit for both die-hard Mischief fans and casual theatre-goers alike. Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle plays at the Apollo Theatre until 28 April. For more
information and tickets, follow the link here.
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AD | gifted tickets in return for an honest review | photography by Pamela Raith