Klub Magic at he Komedia
5th October 2005
Reported by Nick Ralls


Klub Magic came back to the Komedia in Brighton – and what a welcome return it was for magic fans on the South Coast.

Life wasn’t quite the same without it and it is great that producer Mark Worgan had planned two Autumn shows – one held last night and the other in December. Only pity is that it isn’t every month! Klub Magic fans were not to be disappointed with some superb acts combined with the ever appealing Mr Worgan himself involving the audience in some funny and captivating routines as well as delivering the jokes.

Mark Worgan needs to give himself bigger slots in the magic cavalcade he so ably comperes. As a regular of Klub Magic it is all too often one of his routines that is the highlight of the evening. The card in the baked bean can routine at this show has only been surpassed by his acrobatic flea which is an absolute comedy masterpiece. Mark’s only too brief appearance on the Paul O’Grady show proved an indication that here is a unique comedy talent deserving of greater airtime.

At Klub Magic, Mark is an able performer with immense entertainment value and stage presence who could delight the same audience with his own one man show! Apart from demonstrating his own entertainment ability, Mark provides a great service to the magic world by bringing variety in magic to the general public on a regular basis – even although a significant number of his audience are magicians which is understandable given the quality and kudos of the show. Here is a magician to be applauded for his unique contribution to magical entertainment in the UK today.

What delight it was to see Roy Davenport excelling with his very clever manipulations. Roy took two spots in this show – and enthralled the audience with every moment. If a Paul Daniels style show was to be screened on television then the young talent of Roy would be a suitable contender to lead it. Himself from a very magical family, his showmanship combined with tremendous magic skill made me appreciate just what we are missing with a general absence of the traditional magic show in mainstream entertainment. One of the slots involved him performing his grandfather’s act – complete with his grandfather’s waistcoat – and his grandfather must be looking down on this magical wonder with immense pride! Keeping things bright, beautiful and majestic this is an act to look out for. A name to watch out for as it can only get bigger in the magic world!

The ace illusion act Amethyst closed the show with illusions, song and magical presentations that were quite simply magnificent. Catch this act if you can!

Daniel Hunt and Annette Claire are real showstoppers. I marvelled at their snow storm, was mesmerised by their gypsy thread routine and there was faultless presentation of such classic illusions of Metamorphosis, the Indian sword basket and zig zag to name just a few of the offerings. This is a unique and very colourful act with Annette adding some very fine vocal numbers while Daniel did the magic and Annette herself also performing illusions – making them a very formidable and very equal magical partnership. Wonderful! This was the first time this very impressive act did Brighton and the audience loved every second of their performance.

For lovers of alternative magic, if there is such a concept, Pete Firman, from television’s Monkey Business and Dirty Tricks, delivered his own brand of entertainment which was unmissable even if slightly uncomfortable for some. You cannot really take your eyes off a man who swallows whole lit cigarettes, puts needles through his arm drawing blood and swallows whole balloons. Pete has his own brand of comedy in his routine and, while it must be accepted he would not be to everyone’s taste, he is nevertheless a performer capable of holding the stage and demonstrating some first class magical ability. Television, with its appetite for the unusual and the bizarre, are sure to be including him in its schedules for some time to come.

One of the appeals of taking your table at Klub Magic is the close-up magic from Stevie P, a larger than life character who can produce really original and killer effects that you might not see elsewhere. You cannot miss the guy for his exuberant and laugh a minute personality and the whole cabaret/club like atmosphere does make this a rather special venue for entertainment of this type.

Hopefully Klub Magic will have more dates in the new year. All credit to Mark Worgan and his team for producing something quite unique and special in magical entertainment that could surely tour other cities. If you are looking for an all round evening of magical entertainment combined with some food and drink then it does not get much better than Mark Worgan’s magical feast of entertainment.   

© Nick Ralls, October 2005

 

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