2011 Edinburgh Fringe
Morgan & West review
Morgan & West get a solid 4 stars for a genuinely rich, wholehearted, fun family entertainment with mind-boggling trickery and many comical hum-dingers. You know any show which uses the words "ruffian" and "fisticuffs" is going to be pleasing. In all seriousness, this show is elaborate, perfectly synchronised and expertly rehearsed. The duo do very well chatting to members of the crowd whilst, at the same time, also working in their scripted speeches and magic routines.
Walking on with their convincing Victorian stage set-up and accessorised with shiny pocket watches, waistcoats, cravats, top hats and moustache wax, these two Victorian chaps of wizardry will have you questioning, racking your brains and generally all-over stumped at the feats they achieve. By next year, should they choose to come back (I'm sure I speak for many why I say I hope they do), they are deserving of playing to a much bigger room. They can certainly handle a larger audience.
Am I the only one who looks at them and sees the Victorian Laurel and Hardy? A compliment if ever I've said one.
They open with their memory silhouette-card routine as seen on ITV's Penn and Teller: Fool Us; a trick which successfully dumbfounded the renowned American magicians and earned the Victorian gents a ticket to perform in Las Vegas. Following the memory trick there's mind reading, tarot cards, escapology and a Chinese fingertrap, all set into chapters to make things more digestible.
If you're coming to the Festival as a family, what more do you want than a show where everyone can take a positive from it? The show is never rude, boring, or dull. It is a great way to spend an hour and if you're that parent looking for a show that'll keep the kids smiling and yourself happy too, please take my recommendation and see these two charming men.
Dedication to performing is clearly something both the magicians thrive on, and their joint love for the Victorian era shines through, not just in clothes, gesticulation and speech, but they drop in a bit of historical knowledge to really bring the show alive too.
My only negative isn't related to them personally, it's just that the room does not do them justice. They could do with a larger space to add even more spark to the show. If they can bag a bigger room next time, I'm sure it would benefit the performance nicely.
Speaking in a language Morgan & West can understand: these two dashing fellows offer an hour of spiffing jocularity and magical bafflement and it jolly well warms ones cockles, so it does.
Morgan & West: Crime Solving Magicians listing