The Times Colonist is covering the Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival, running to Aug. 31. All ratings are out of five.
What: Mr. and Mrs. Alexander: Sideshows & Psychics
Where: St. Ann's Academy
When: Aug. 27, 29, 30, 31
Rating: 4
New Zealanders David Ladderman and Lizzie Tollemache present an authentic rendition of a Victorian-era magic act. It’s entertaining and worth seeing, especially for those interested in entertainment history.
With admirable theatrical chutzpah and plenty of audience participation, the couple delve into mind reading, magic and other vaudevillian shenanigans. We’re in good hands with top-hatted Ladderman and Tollemache (her elegant theatrical moves somehow recall Georges Seurat’s mysterious circus paintings). These two really know how to work an audience.
The show is about the mysterious Mr. and Mrs. Alexander, ostensibly a real pair of New Zealand entertainers who ultimately used their show to pull off an audacious confidence trick. This story-line gets slightly muddied at times, as we leap-frog from one stunt to another, climaxing with their infamous possum trap trick.
Partly because of its heavy reliance on volunteers, the show's pacing — at least on Tuesday night — slowed on occasion. Overall, it’s an intriguing and unusual show — a seemingly bona fide look into the Criss Angels and David Copperfields of yesteryear.
More Fringe coverage HERE
