| 16 August 2011
How did no one think of this before? Barry and Stuart’s concept for this year’s Fringe - a two-part show that focuses first on the ‘show,’ then on the ‘tell’ - is so simple it verges on sexy. Okay, so it’s highly unlikely that this is the first execution of this concept, but, boy do Barry and Stuart own it. From customized suits and well-coifed hair to trashy magazines and an overall sinister air, this duo is hell-bent on making magic feel fresh, and they are well-equipped to do so.
The connective thread throughout such a multi-faceted show is Barry and Stuart’s ability to bring classic magic into the twenty-first century. At times, this emphasis on modernization, or rather appealing to a modern crowd, irked me; there are several instances of connecting magic to social media that feel, to me, on par with middle-aged advertising executives deliberating on how to reach the kids these days. Still, the tactic seems to be working for just about everyone, so I can hardly hold it against Barry and Stuart for jumping on the bandwagon.
What Barry and Stuart have realized so early into the careers is that a truly unforgettable experience is based on more than misdirection. While the act of making something appear and disappear is interesting as a mystery, its effect becomes dulled if nothing changes besides the manipulated object in question. In response to this, Show and Tell seeks new and exciting presentation and, although the stakes may be set a little too high at times as a result, the aim is nonetheless commendable.
In a way, every magician has to pull tricks out of the same hat. Barry and Stuart suggest that maybe magic isn’t defined as much by what you pull out of the metaphorical hat than it is by the way you pull.
Barry and Stuart - Show and Tell: The Show, Cow Barn @ Udderbelly’s Pasture, 12-28 Aug, 10.15 pm
Barry and Stuart - Show and Tell: The Tell, Cow Barn @ Udderbelly’s Pasture, 12-28 Aug, 11.59 pm
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