Unusual Wonderings: Raymond Crowe & Peter Samelson Spread The Magic Of Illusion – Adelaide Fringe Review

Gluttony’s The Lotus Place, Sun Mar 15 Charming, with both its social and its magical connotations is great way to describe the combination of Raymond Crowe and Peter Samelson (direct from New York) and this show of illusion. The show begins with some shadow puppetry, both our illusionists behind the curtain. Peter then takes the stage with a rope trick and Raymond weaves something of a spell with shadows, but from in front, so we can see exactly how he is creating the creatures, although that does nothing to detract from the fantasy. Raymond introduces a 200-year-old silhouette machine, weaving a story among a couple of volunteers and then proceeds to hand make a silhouette himself and provide a little shadow puppetry theatre with both the silhouettes and the couple – its warm and endearing stuff! Then its card tricks with audience volunteers and Peter sets up an elaborate key, lock and wedding ring trick, weaving a strong narrative throughout. Humour, warmth and empathy is evident from the start to the finish of this show, perhaps no better figured than when Peter promises to show us how one particular trick is done and both of them go in slo-mo, Peter doing the trick and Raymond pretending to have caused the trick by his faster than the eye can see entrance and exit of the stage. There's dancing props, light and shade in mood and everybody in the audience simply entranced by the entertainment on offer and while the entertainment is good, the whole audience left wishing that these two might have been their long lost uncles – they are simply fun! Clayton Werner